TIANMA Microelectronics Co Ltd will start production at its 3.1 billion yuan (US$397 million) LCD panel plant in Shanghai at the end of this year.

The liquid-crystal-display plant, in Pudong's Zhangjiang High Tech Industrial Park, will be able to turn out 30,000 units a month initially.

The Shanghai facility was co-invested by Shenzhen Tianma, Catic Shenzhen Holding Ltd and three Shanghai Firms. It manufactures small LCD panels used in mobile phones, auto electronics, portable multimedia players and game consoles.

The Shenzhen-listed firm is the only Chinese-mainland firm focusing on small-panel manufacturing - a distinction that earned it a profit in 2006.

Companies like SVA and BOE, which make larger panels for laptops and TVs, lost money last year due to fierce competition, industry insiders said.

In 2006, the company's net profit totaled 93.79 million yuan, an increase of 69.3 percent from the year before. Revenue amounted to 150 million yuan, 37 percent growth. The company's earnings are expected to reach 142.8 million yuan this year and expand to 186.4 million next year.

Source:佚名