SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Despite sluggish demand in global TV markets, output of 3D TV panels is expected to surge during the fourth quarter, driven by fierce competition among 3D TV makers, a market research firm said Thursday.

   According to DisplaySearch, production of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels equipped with 3D capabilities will jump 30 percent on-year in the last three months of 2011.

   The fourth-quarter growth pace of 3D TV panel output is forecast to be even larger than the previous quarter, it said. In the third quarter, 3D panel output rose 27 percent from one year ago.

   DisplaySearch attributed the surge in the 3D TV panel output to the heated competition between Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc., the world's two-biggest TV makers that are betting big on 3D TVs.

   Samsung is advancing its shutter glass technology for 3D TVs while LG is backing the film patterned retarder technology. The two Korean TV vendors have high stakes in leading the technology standards, due to the large growth potential of this market.

   The market research firm said the 3D panel output will reach 21.5 million units for the whole of 2011, accounting for 10 percent of overall LCD TV panel production.

   ylee@yna.co.kr
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