LG Electronics Inc <066570.KS>, the world's second-biggest TV brand, expects its LCD TV sales to jump nearly 50 percent next year as demand from emerging countries continues robust growth, a top executive said.

South Korea-based LG, which competes with home rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS> and Japan's Sony Corp <6758.T>, expects to sell around 17 million liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs this year and 25 million in 2010, said Simon Kang, chief executive for LG's home entertainment unit.

LG sold 10.5 million LCD TVs in 2008.

The flat-screen TV market will continue to grow in the second half although it will probably see the growth rate slowing from the first half, Kang told a news conference. His comments, made in Seoul ahead of the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, were embargoed until Sunday.

Kang also said LG expected to sell 4 million plasma TVs in 2010, up from 3 million of expected 2009 sales and 2.2 million sold in 2008.

(Reporting by Rhee So-eui)

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