The consumer electronics industry is forecast to reach nearly $166 billion in US shipment revenues this year, with the wireless handset category as the primary revenue driver, according to the semi-annual industry forecast by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

Total industry shipment revenues fell an estimated 7.7% in 2009, although unit volume increased nearly 10% for the year as consumers bought electronics at value prices, curtailing industry revenues, CEA said.

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Key CEA 2010 forecasts by product category:

• Wireless handset revenue is forecast to drive the electronics industry recovery this year. Sales of smartphones, which account for 30% of total wireless phone shipments, are forecast to reach $17 billion with 52 million units sold.

• Netbook sales, which nearly doubled in 2009, are forecast to reach $14 billion with more than 30 million units sold.

• Blue-ray player sales, which climbed 155% in 2009 to $1 billion, are forecast to reach $1.4 billion with approximately 11.5 million units sold.

• The forecast for the consumer TV market is mixed: Unit sales will climb to more than 37 million, but price drops will force annual revenue down to $22 billion. In addition, sales of 3D TV sets are forecast to reach 4 million units.