China takes top spot for large screen TVs as growth explodes

China has now emerged as the leading global market for large-screen TVs, with demand spiking by almost 80% in the first quarter of this year, according to figures compiled by IHS.

According to the research group, growth in demand in China for screens larger than 55-inches has been fuelled by falling prices. Shipments to the Chinese market grew at twice the rate of global growth in the quarter, rising to 3.8 million units compared with 2.1 million units in the same period last year.

According to IHS’s TV Sets Market Tracker, almost two-thirds of big-screen TV shipments in China in the first quarter of 2016 were 4K TV models, as 4K TV prices for 55-inch and larger sizes declined more than 36%, year over year.

While global TV shipments in the first quarter of 2016 fell 2%, to 49.1 million units, shipments of 4K sets have continued to grow. The global 4K TV market grew 99% year over year in the first quarter of this year, reaching 9.3 million units, or 19% of units shipped.

The average TV screen size globally increased to 40.6 inches. The average screen size of TV shipments in China also reached a new high of nearly 45 inches in the first quarter, according to IHS.