Demand for large screen TFT LCD TV’s is growing with shipments in July reaching 49.2 million units, up 5% sequentially and 39% year on year according to research Company DisplaySearch.
The two biggest shippers of large LCD TV panels over the period was LG and Samsung.
“July was a record-breaking month for large-size TFT-LCD panels across several segments, including total shipments, shipment area, notebook PC, LCD TV and netbook panel shipments. This indicates strong recovery in end-market demand and increased utilisation at panel makers,” said David Hsieh, vice president of DisplaySearch.
Hsieh added, “Panel prices continued to rise in July, and revenues will increase again in August as shipments continue to grow. Despite the price increases, OEMs and brands are building inventories for the coming holiday season. DisplaySearch believes it is very important to watch inventories carefully in September, especially for LCD monitor and LCD TV panels.”
Large-size TFT-LCD revenues reached US$5.9 billion, up 11% sequentially and 6% on year, marking the first time in the past 12 months that there has been positive yearly growth.
On a unit basis, LG Display (LGD) was the leader with 24.7% market share, followed by Samsung with 23.4% and AU Optronics (AUO) with 16.8%. Samsung led in area shipments with 26.8% market share, followed by LG Display at 25.1%, Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) at 15.7%, and AUO with 15.6%.
LCD shipments for notebook PC and for TV showed sequentially growth – reaching monthly record highs of 16.7 million and 13.5 million units, respectively. Slower demand for 20-inch and larger monitor panels resulted in a 1% sequential decline in July. LCD TV panels had the highest yearly growth at 69%, followed by notebook panels at 36%, and monitor panels at 26%.
In terms of area, large-size TFT-LCD shipments reached 7.4 million square meters in July, up 4% sequentially and 45% on year, the largest amount yet. The growth in shipment area was mainly driven by TV panels.
Netbook (5.0-11.6-inch) panel shipments were 4.3 million units in July, also achieving an all-time high. HannStar Display led this segment with 1.2 million netbook panels shipped in July.
DisplaySearch forecasts that shipments will increase again in August, but at a slower rate because the glass substrate shortage is limiting panel makers’ production. The panel supply situation will continue to tighten in August and September – resulting in higher revenues.
