South Korean display maker Samsung Display Co. kept its dominant position in the market for liquid crystal display (LCD) panels that are 9.1 inches or smaller in the first quarter, data showed Thursday.

Sales of smaller display panels by Samsung Display reached $2.24 billion in the January-March period, accounting for 23.5 percent of the global market, according to the data by market researcher DisplaySearch.

The first-quarter figure is up 28.5 percent from $1.75 billion in sales a year earlier, the data showed.

The smaller LCD panels are usually used for smartphones and tablet computers.

Samsung Display's market dominance was boosted by strong sales of Galaxy smartphones made by its affiliate Samsung Electronics Co.

Samsung Electronics emerged as the world's largest smartphone maker in the first quarter, beating Apple Inc. and Nokia Corp.

LG Display Co., another South Korean panel maker, came in second in the segment with sales of $1.42 billion in the first quarter, representing a 14.9 percent share of the market, the data showed.

Japan's Sharp Corp. ranked fourth with $1.41 billion in sales and a 14.8 percent share, followed by Japan Display with $1.16 billion and 12.2 percent.

Taiwanese players Chimei Innolux Corp. and AU Optronics Corp. chalked up 8 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively, the data showed.

The overall large-area segment saw a 28.6 percent rise in revenue to reach $9.53 billion in the first quarter.

The global market for smaller displays will jump 38 percent on-year to reach $48.36 billion this year, the researcher said. (Yonhap News)