Display
Outlook for the Worldwide Large Area TFT-LCD Panel Industry in 2010 and Beyond
December 25, 2009 / Jane Yeh
18 Page, Topical Report
US$1,820 (Single User License)

Abstract

In early 2009, panel manufacturers significantly reduced production in light of weak economic forecasts. However, end-market demand proved to be stronger than the forecasts of manufacturers. Orders gradually returned. In 2010, high-generation production lines will continue to come online around the world. Japanese and Korean manufacturers are accelerating their deployment in the Chinese market, while a series of mergers has occurred among Taiwanese manufacturers. These factors have created a large number of variables for panel industry development in 2010. This report analyzes key development trends in the global large-area TFT-LCD panel industry in 2010, and provides long-term shipment forecasts.
  •  Table of Contents
  •  List of Topics
  •  List of Figures
  •  List of Tables

Capacity Allocation and Supply Chain Relationships Affect Future Development of Manufacturers

Even though it is already relatively certain that global panel production capacity will be larger than demand in 2010, panel manufacturers continue to bring new capacity online in order to move along with the size increases of LCD TV panels and to increase future panel production efficiency. They hope that in this way they can improve their product competitiveness in the future. However, it is not likely that in the future panel prices will increase significantly, and panel prices will continue to hover around cost levels. Panel manufacturers' room for profitability is thus limited. In the future, panel manufacturers have to allocate capacity in such way that they can maintain a stable capacity utilization ratio, and cooperate with suppliers in areas such as R&D and design to lower costs. This will offer opportunities to increase product profits and improve overall profitability. Faced with new LED suppliers, panel manufacturers will also need to consider how to cooperate, in order to avoid the breaks in the supply chain that occurred in 2009.

Maintain Growth with Product Value-Added

The main image display specifications of large-size panels can already satisfy the demand of the majority of consumers. Furthermore, panel prices are quite low. When buying LCD panel application products, specifications are no longer the main consideration for consumers. In the future, growth momentum for large-size panel application products will shift from replacement to value-add. Features such as LED backlight modules and 3D display features increase the added value of panels. Product demand can be increased through function improvements.

Policies of the Chinese Government Will Be Closely Watched in the Future

China in the future will become the single largest market in terms of panel demand. The country is also a center of attention in terms of future panel capacity development. Currently, Chinese panel manufacturers BOE and FVO have already commenced construction on 7G or higher production sites. Furthermore, in consideration of import tariffs and logistical costs, Japanese and Korean manufacturers have already started to look for cooperation with local governments in China. The Taiwanese government has not yet approved investments in high-generation panel production in China by Taiwanese manufacturers. In the future, LCD TV panel mass production schedules in China and import tariff adjustments by the Chinese government will influence panel manufacturers' competitiveness in the Chinese market.

Appendix

Glossary of Terms

LED

 

Light Emitting Diode

CULV

 

Consumer Ultra Low Voltage

CRT

 

Cathode Ray Tube

LCM

 

Liquid Crystal display Module

CCFL

 

Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp

List of Companies

AOC

 

 

AUO

 

 

Blu-ray Disc Association

 

 

BOE

 

 

BS

 

 

CEC

 

 

Changhong

 

 

Chi Mei Lighting

 

 

Citizen

 

 

CMO

 

 

CPT

 

 

Cree

 

 

Epistar

 

 

Everlight

 

 

Formosa Epitaxy

 

 

Funai

 

 

FVO

 

 

GIO

 

 

Hisense

 

 

IPS Alpha

 

 

Konka

 

 

Lextar

 

 

LG Display

 

 

LG Innotek

 

 

Light House

 

 

Lite-On

 

 

Microsoft

 

 

Nichia

 

 

Opto Tech

 

 

Osram

 

 

Philips

 

 

Philips Lumileds

 

 

Rainbow

 

 

Rohm

 

 

Samsung

 

 

Semco

 

 

Seoul Semi

 

 

Sharp

 

 

Skyworth

 

 

Sony

 

 

TCL

 

 

Toshiba

 

 

Toyota Gosei

 

 

Vizio

 

 

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