This year`s mega-trend in the global home appliance market is expected to become a `smart home appliance` that combines products and consumer-tailored services with artificial intelligence (AI) added to Internet technology. In particular, TVs are expected to lead the market with ultra-high-definition large-format products including 8K (full UHD).

The key trends in the home appliance market this year include artificial intelligence, 8K TV, respectively at IFA (International Household Appliances Expo) Global Press Conference (GPC) 2018 held at Space Cinema Parco de Medici in Rome, Italy. It will be the main theme of `IFA 2018` held in Berlin, Germany from August 31 for 6 days.

IFA GPC is a pre-event of IFA 2018, Europe`s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition to be held in Berlin, Germany in September. The event, hosted by the German Electrical Communication Association (GFU) and the Messe Berlin Fair, took part in major consumer electronics companies including Philips, Sharp and TCL. IHS Markets, GfK and others participated.

"This year`s electronics and IT market is expected to grow by 3.9 percent year-on-year to USD 1.14 billion, or USD 97.6 billion," said Prof. Mirko Lucowski, vice president of IFA. Super-high-definition) and artificial intelligence (TV) have been released and become a core appliance."

According to market researcher GFK, world UHD TV sales will increase by 25% from USD 46 billion in 2016 to USD 57.7 billion in 2017, and this year it is expected to increase by more than 35% to USD 77.8 billion. Especially, the TV market is characterized by a steady increase in sales volume due to the recent upsurge in demand, rapid replacement cycles, various smart functions, and demand for second home appliances.

Since this year, major TV manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have begun to apply artificial intelligent speech recognition to TVs, TVs are expected to play a role as hubs for connecting home appliances beyond simple TV viewing functions. At the event, TCL, the world`s third-largest TV manufacturer, is also working with Google to develop smart TV products using AI. Especially last year, it was a key trend to introduce Internet (IoT) technology to small household appliances centered on large household appliances. However, this year, smart home appliances that combine devices and services by expanding connectivity with artificial intelligence Service is expected to become popular.

The world`s major home appliances market has been steadily growing over the past 10 years, and this year is also expected to grow by 3-7% year-on-year. According to market researcher GfK, the sales volume of major household electrical appliances (MDA) is expected to reach 564 million units this year and 570 million units in 2019, from 384 million units in 2006, to 527 million units last year.

Rome (Italy) = By Kim Eun silverkim@


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