Shipments of LCD monitors by Taiwan makers totaled 27.46 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, down 5.7% sequentially and 13.1% on year, according to data compiled by Digitimes Research.

The shipment declines come as the growth of global monitor shipments has dropped to 2% or even lower recently. Shipments of LCD monitors by TPV Technology, the world's largest maker in the segment, were also affected in 2011, seeing its shipments grow at a small rate of 7.2% on year to 59.52 million units in the year, said Digitimes Research.

Due to seasonal factors and product adjustment at vendors, LCD monitor shipments by Taiwan makers will continue to drop by 4.6% sequentially in the first quarter of 2012, the fifth straight quarterly decline. The decision by Chimei Innolux (CMI) to phase out OEM LCD monitor business and reduced outsourcing orders from Samsung Electronics are also factors for the slow growth of global shipments.

Overall, Taiwan makers are expected to ship 114.9 million LCD monitors in 2012, down slightly from 116.6 million units shipped in 2011. Meanwhile, global monitor shipments are likely to reach 169.9 million units in 2012 compared to 168.6 million shipped a year earlier, estimated Digitimes Research.