The Diggi Times reports that the cost of 32″ LCD TVs could fall next month following Xmas.
Prices for 32-inch LCD TV panels are likely to stay flat or dip next month, as supply for the segment is no longer tight and Christmas demand is receding, according to Taiwan-based panel makers.
Supply of 32-inch TV panels has increased on continued capacity ramps at major next-generation plants, including capacity at the seventh-generation (7G) plant from the joint venture (S-LCD) between Sony and Samsung Electronics, the 6G lines from AU Optronics (AUO) and CMO and a 5.5G line from CMO.
Quotes at AUO and CMO are currently at US$555-560, while slightly lower prices are seen at Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT). South Korea-based panel makers are offering 32-inch panels at slightly higher pricing than the Taiwan-based makers, according to Taiwan-based TV system makers.
Frank Ko, general manager of TV Business and soon-to-be director of TV Marketing, AUO, stated recently that AUO aims to have 21% of the 32-inch TV panel market this quarter.
CMO also stated at a recent investors conference that it aims to see its TV panel shipments grow 17-24% sequentially this quarter, with the proportion of shipments for 32-inch TVs to increase from the current 30%. The monthly capacity at its 5.5G plant is expected to increase to 90,000 glass substrates next month, up from 50,000 now, company president Chao-yang Ho said during the event.
