By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOT While the world economy may not yet be completely out of the woods, indicators show some promise. Consider the trade figures coming out of North Asia, markets that encompass important trade partners South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. According to U.S. Census Bureau foreign trade statistics, in the 1st Quarter 2010 the United States exported $12,623.0 million worth of goods to South Korea compared to $5,772.4 million for the same period in 2009. The U.S. imported $13,823.0 million in goods that period compared to $12,740.0 million that same time in 2009. Looking at Japan, the United States exported $19,045.6 million in goods during 1st Quarter 2010, compared to $16,440.8 million for the same period 2009. The United States imported $36,824.1 million in goods from Japan in 1st Quarter 2010 compared to $28,757.2 million that same period 2009. Regarding Taiwan, the United States exported $8,027.8 million in goods during 1st Quarter 2010, compared to $4,586.3 million for the same period 2009. The United States imported $10,149.1 million in goods from Taiwan in 1st Quarter 2010 compared to $8,925.3 million that same period 2009. While trade with these countries does not come close to the behemoth market of China, North Asia plays an important role. Among the major products coming from these markets to the United States are computers, motor vehicles, petrochemicals, semiconductors, steel and wireless telecommunications. In return, the United States exports goods such as coal, corn, oilfield and drilling equipment, steelmaking materials, glass (plates and sheets), iron and steel mill products, unmanufactured steel mill products, and rice to North Asia. Consumer Products Among the products getting the most attention these days are flat paneled televisions, wireless mobile devices, and computers. These are important products that are defining trade in North Asian markets. Boosting the liquid crystal display (LCD) industry that manufacturers the flat paneled television in South Korea is Praxair Korea. Last December, this subsidiary of Praxair Inc. opened a new plant at the Samsung complex in Tangjeong, South Korea to support Samsung’s Electronics’ advanced thin-film transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) factory. Samsung’s Tangjeong complex is the world’s first and largest eight generation TFT-LCD plant and is designed to expand to meet demand for future generations of LCDS. Last year, Samsung recaptured leadership in the U.S. LCD-TV market from competitor Vizio Inc. The company shipped 1.3 million LCD TVs into the United States during the 3rd Quarter, equal to a 16.8 percent share of the market, according to iSuppli, a market research firm in El Segundo, CA. Sharp Corp. opened its massive $11 billion production complex in Sakai, western Japan last November to produce LCD panels. The enormous factory, which spans 32 baseball stadiums in size, represents Japan’s biggest gamble in LCD panels and its efforts to remain competitive with rivals in South Korea, Taiwan, and China. To cut costs, suppliers are located on site. Meanwhile, demand for LCDs is increasing due to stronger than expected LCD TV demand, minor monitor-panel shipment growth, accelerated notebook PC replacement purchases, according to Market Intelligence Center (MIC) of the Institute for Information Industry. In fact, MIC forecasted last year that about 154 million monitors would be shipped in 2009, down 3.2 percent year-on-year, but expects the annual volume to continue to grow over next five years. LCD TV shipments in 2010 and 2014 are forecasted to reach 152 million and 196 million units, respectively. Merck KGaA, the world’s largest manufacturer of LCDs, reports that its 1st Quarter 2010 profit more than tripled as demand returned for the liquid crystals it makes for flat-panel televisions and monitors. Consequently, Merck’s net income was the highest since the third quarter of 2008, a sign that the global economy is recovering. The company