TAIPEI - HTC , the world's fourth-largest smartphone brand, said on Saturday it had forecast a 20 per cent increase in shipments worldwide this year due to intense market competition.

Taiwan-based HTC will raise its 2008 shipments from about 12 million units to more than 14 million, the company and local media said, citing statements by Chief Executive Officer Peter Chou at a shareholder conference.

'He didn't give a reason and there's no one single factor, but product competition is fairly significant,' a company publicist said on Saturday.

Smartphones were one of the few bright spots in the technology industry last year, growing by more than 22 per cent worldwide, and in some regions, by more than 70 per cent from the previous year, according to research firm IDC.

HTC had a market share of 4.5 per cent of the total smartphone market in 2008, ranking behind rivals Nokia, Research in Motion and Apple , the Gartner technology research company has said.

HTC shares closed 2.64 per cent higher on Friday, outpacing the broad market , which was up 1.41 per cent. -- THOMSON REUTERS