Premier Image Technology, Altek and Ability Enterprise, three leading producers of digital still cameras (DSCs) in Taiwan, expect booming shipments to retail and distribution channels in Europe. Japan-based Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) indicated that the European market accounted for 36% of the global DSC shipments in 2004, five percentage points higher than the US market. IDC?s statistics showed that Europe?s 2004 imports at more than 25 million DSCs jumping 57% from 2003. Europe?s growth slowed down in the fourth quarter of last year but will still be significant relative to other markets in 2005, forecast IDC.

With one-third of its clients from Europe, Premier Image expects to export two million DSCs to the continent this year, accounting for 50% of its total shipments, according to the company.

Due to US$2 lower production cost through using self-developed ASICs (application-specific ICs), Altek?s DSCs in the European retail market are US$5-10 cheaper than other products of the same specifications, the company pointed out. Altek foresees that shipments to Europe, mainly the UK and Germany, will account for 20%-30% of its total revenues this year.

Ability Enterprise expects shipments to channel and distribution clients to account for 20%-30% of total revenues, with orders mainly from Europe.