Worldwide shipments of LCD and plasma screens for use in digital signage and professional displays is forecasted to grow a hefty 25 percent in 2010, reaching 1.99 million units, up from 1.6 million in 2009, according to Sanju Khatri, principal analyst for signage and public information displays at iSuppli.

For the indoor venues market, which includes installations in entertainment facilities, hospitality centers, healthcare facilities, auditoriums and indoor arenas, LCD and plasma signage displays will climb more than 70 percent, reaching 720,000 units in 2010, up from 419,000 units in 2009.

For the retail signage market, which includes displays in the retail environment, grocery stores, shopping malls and fast-food restaurants, LCD and plasma signage displays will rise to 848,000 units in 2010, up 18 percent from 717,000 in 2009.

Of the roughly 2 million signage and professional displays that will ship this year, fully three-quarters or 1.52 million units will be LCD displays, with the remaining 468,752 being plasma screens.

“Because of renewed economic vigor after the recession, the industry can expect stellar growth during the following years as well, with increases of more than 40 percent projected annually from 2011 to 2013”, Khatri added. By 2013, shipments of LCD and plasma displays for signage and professional displays will total 5.99 million units.