LG Display ranked at the top of the large liquid crystal display panel market in the third quarter of this year, according to industry data.

Santa Clara-based consulting firm Display Search’s report showed on Wednesday that LG Display’s market share in large LCD panels for televisions, monitors and laptops rose slightly to 26.1 percent, with 45 million units sold, from 25.2 percent in the previous quarter.

The company has topped the quarterly list for four straight years, and is projected to retain the position in the fourth quarter, according to the research firm.

Samsung Display was ranked second with 32 million units (19.8 percent), followed by Taiwan’s Innolux Display with 30 million units (17.5 percent) and AU Optronics with 29 million units (16.9 percent). China’s BOE Display Technology was ranked fifth with 12 million units (7 percent).

“This landscape will continue for some time because LCD panel makers do not seem to aggressively invest in LCD panels down the road due to oversupply and sluggish demand,” said Seoul-based Kiwoom Securities’ analyst Kim Byung-ki.

However, Chinese companies like BOE Technology and China Star Optoelectronics Technology will continue to see growth backed by government support.

“Though both Samsung and LG recently invested in LCD plants in China to take aim at the local market there, it is becoming difficult to dominate the market as the Chinese government is raising tariffs on foreign companies and provide financial support to local companies,” Kim said.

Global shipments in large LCD panels of 9.1 inches and higher slightly went down to 173 million in the third quarter, according to the report.

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)