South Korean display giant LG Display Co. kept its dominant position in the market for liquid crystal display panels that are 9.1 inches or larger in the first quarter, data showed Thursday.

Shipments by LG Display reached 44.6 million units in the January-March period, accounting for 27.2 percent of a total 164 million units shipped globally, according to the data by market researcher DisplaySearch.

The large LCD panels are usually used for computer monitors, laptop computer screens and TVs.

LG Display has been maintaining its top slot in the larger LCD panel segment since the fourth quarter of 2009.

Samsung Display Co., another South Korean panel maker, came in second with a shipment of 35 million units, or a 21.4 percent share in the segment, while Taiwanese players Chimei Innolux Corp. and AU Optronics Corp. chalked up 17.6 percent and 15.8 percent, respectively, the data showed.

The data also showed that LG Display cemented its lead in terms of revenue in the first quarter.

LG Display’s revenue in the segment amounted to US$5.09 billion, or 28.1 percent, of the total in the January-March period, dwarfing Samsung Display’s 20.6 percent stake worth $3.74 billion.

The overall large-area segment saw a 0.9-percent rise in revenue to reach $18.16 billion in the first quarter.

Meanwhile, Taiwan came in second with a market share of 34.7 percent in the segment during the first quarter, while China bolstered its presence in the segment with a record 13.1 percent share, the data showed.

Japan ranked fourth with a 3.7 percent share, they showed. (Yonhap News)