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Published on September 11, 2007

Group chief executive in Thailand, Daizo Ito, said Malaysia topped production and sales in the region today.

Consolidated net sales in the Kingdom last year amounted to Bt63 billion and its best sellers were plasma and LCD-screen televisions, batteries and light bulbs, air-conditioners and digital still cameras.

He estimated sales this year would surge to Bt70 billion. Panasonic will focus sales efforts on TVs and Lumix digital cameras. It is launching three new camera models, of which it expects to sell 100,000 this year, he said. Panasonic's share of the digital-camera market will rise from 8 per cent to 15 per cent this year, he added. Sony dominates the market with 22 per cent, followed by Canon at 20 per cent, Samsung at 13 per cent and Fuji at 8 per cent.

"In Thailand, Panasonic's Lumix is less popular. Consumers want high pixels but cheap cameras. We need to boost its popularity," he said.

"We admit it is difficult to compete with Sony and Canon, which are market leaders, but advanced technology will build our competitiveness. We will introduce the three models next month and spend Bt80 million promoting them." Prices are between Bt13,900 and Bt14,990.

Nakagaki Motoki of the audio-visual product marketing department said global demand in digital cameras remained robust at 90 million units this year, 92 million in 2008 and 2009 and 93 million in 2010.

SIRIPORN CHANJINDAMANEE, THE NATION