***Digital Camera Shipments Projected to Double in FY2000
(December 12)
According to The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, shipments of digital
cameras by 19 Japanese manufacturers are expected to reach 12
million units worldwide in fiscal 2000, double the volume from
the previous year, when they soared 80 percent.
With manufacturers trying to raise output, shipments could
balloon to 20 million units in fiscal 2001. Japanese makers of
digital cameras, including Sony, Olympus Optical and Fuji Photo
Film, hold a combined 80% share of the global market.
Sony and Olympus, each of which has a 25% share of the global
market, plan to ship 5 million digital cameras apiece in fiscal
2001, double the estimates for the current fiscal year.
Third-ranked Fuji Photo, which holds a 20% market share, will
raise shipments in fiscal 2001 by 70% to 4.8 million units. Canon
plans to triple shipments to 3 million cameras, while Chinon
Industries, which is affiliated with Eastman Kodak, will raise
shipments by 50% to 2 million units. Nikon aims to boost
shipments by 70% to 1.2 million.
Some manufacturers are making efforts to expand their marketing
channels. Sharp has agreed to supply around 100,000 digital
cameras a month to Eastman Kodak on an OEM basis.
In line with expanding shipments, demand for related parts is
also expected to balloon. Sony plans to raise its output of
charge-coupled devices next spring at a cost of 10 billion yen.
In addition, semiconductor manufacturers are planning to increase
production of flash memories amid the digital camera boom in
Japan.
In contrast, shipments of cameras that use film are leveling off,
standing at around 34 million in 1999, with digital camera
shipments catching up fast.
Wave Issue 0101 1/4/01 Article 5-01