As we approach the end of October, how will prices for TV, monitor, and laptop panels shift?

According to TrendForce’s late October panel pricing report, Research Vice President Boyce Fan observed that TV panel prices are stabilizing. Thanks to China’s trade-in program, brands ramped up promotions, and sales during the National Day holiday exceeded expectations, with a year-on-year increase of nearly 20%. This has boosted brand confidence and led to continued stockpiling of TV panels. Panel manufacturers, benefiting from the trade-in policy and production cuts during the holiday, are likely to see TV panel prices stabilize across the board in October.

For small-sized TV panels, demand for 32-inch and 43-inch panels remains steady, and with panel makers controlling production, prices are expected to stabilize. Medium-sized panels, such as 50-inch and 55-inch, are still facing weak demand, but production control could help prices level off.

Meanwhile, large-sized panels, including 65-inch and 75-inch, have seen a strong demand surge, directly benefiting from the trade-in policy. With strict production control of 10.5-generation panels maintaining supply-demand balance, prices are also expected to stabilize.

In the monitor panel market, prices have continued to decline following the trend seen in September as demand enters the off-season. Since late Q3, some panel manufacturers have aggressively negotiated project pricing with brand clients for Q4, exerting pressure on monitor panel prices. Fan noted that the price drop for open-cell panels is expected to widen, with declines ranging from $0.3 to $0.4. Panel module prices for mainstream sizes are projected to fall by $0.2 to $0.3, a more significant drop than the previous month.

As for laptop panels, some brands have slightly revised their Q4 demand upwards to boost production scale, supporting stable shipments of laptop panels. However, some panel manufacturers, in an effort to secure orders, have adopted a more flexible pricing approach, which may affect overall market pricing trends. Currently, average laptop panel prices are expected to remain stable, though high-end IPS models are already seeing a $0.1 drop. By November, panel makers are expected to face increased pressure from clients demanding price cuts, intensifying negotiations on both sides.

TrendForce has released the latest panel quotations for late April. The upward trend in TV is beginning to stabilize due to the increased supply capacity; monitor (MNT) panel prices continue to rise in April as the demand remains strong; for notebook (NB) panel, amid challenges in forming a consensus for price increases, NB panel prices continue to hover at the bottom.

More details are as follows:

• TV

In April, signs of weakening demand for television panels have emerged, particularly evident in the weakening demand for TVs sized 55 inches and below. Only large-size TV panels of 65-inch and above continue to be supported by subsequent peak-season promotional stocking demands.

Meanwhile, panel manufacturers continue to operate at relatively high capacity levels. With increased supply capacity, the upward trend in panel prices is beginning to stabilize. In April, the expected price increases for TV panels include 1 USD for 32-inch, 43-inch and 50-inch; 2 USD for 55-inch; 4~5 USD for 65-inch and 75-inch.

• MNT

Driven by the price increases in TV panels, the MNT panel sector has seen panel manufacturers actively negotiating with customers in hopes of improving the profitability of MNT panels. Starting from March, they have successfully raised the prices of MNT panels.

Entering April, demand for consumer-grade models from some customers remains strong. The extended shipping times caused by the shipping crisis have forced some customers to increase inventory levels and stock up earlier. Additionally, the risk of capacity constraints due to the improved demand for TV panels still exists.

Therefore, it is expected that MNT panel prices will continue to rise in April, with the possibility of further expansion in price increases. For Open Cell panels, the prices for mainstream sizes like 23.8 inch and 27 inch are expected to rise by 0.7 USD. As for panel modules, the 21.5-inch and 23.8-inch are projected to increase by 0.5 USD, while the 27-inch is expected to increase by 0.4 USD.

• NB

After passing through the off-season in the first quarter, NB panel demand from brands remains weak entering April, without the expected strong rebound.

Due to this weak demand, there is a noticeable disparity among panel manufacturers regarding their stance on price increases. This disparity makes it challenging for panel manufacturers to create a rising price trend similar to that seen in TV and MNT panels. With a consensus on price increases difficult to form, NB panel prices continue to hover at a low point.

Looking at April, it is expected that only TN panel models, due to their lower prices, may see a slight increase of around 1 USD. IPS panel models are mostly expected to remain stable, while 16:10 panel models are anticipated to stay flat or decrease slightly by up to 0.2 USD.

Read more

• [Insights] March Panel Prices Update, TV Brands Further Increased, Notebook Panel Prices Await Clear Direction
• [Insights] Late February Panel Prices Update, TV Panel Prices Return to Rising Trend

Following Apple’s cancellation of the Micro LED watch project, the associated supply chain has been further impacted. According to a report from TechNews citing MicroLED-Info, the latest one is KLA Corporation, which has announced a complete exit from the flat panel display (FPD) equipment business.

KLA recently announced its complete withdrawal from the FPD market. The company, which acquired Israeli automated optical inspection (AOI) system supplier Orbotech for USD 3.4 billion, had entered the Micro LED market opportunistically through this acquisition, as Orbotech is a developer of inspection equipment for the semiconductor and display industries.

Due to slowdowns in investment and demand in the consumer electronics market, Orbotech’s performance has been lackluster in recent quarters, with the entire division accounting for only about 3% of KLA’s revenue, totaling USD 283 million in 2023, a decline of 48%. As per the same report, it’s believed that KLA’s decision to shut down this division is linked to the cancellation of a major project with a key customer, likely Apple.

As FPD is one of Orbotech’s main divisions, with KLA announcing its withdrawal from the FPD market, more than 100 employees from this division will face layoffs. KLA stated that exiting the FPD equipment business will not impact the company’s revenue expectations for this quarter, which are projected to be USD 2.3 billion with a variance of plus or minus USD 12.5 million.

Apple’s decision in March to cancel the Micro LED watch project sent shockwaves through the display industry and Micro LED developers.

German LED giant Osram is still considering its next steps, with expected losses of USD 650-900 million; electronic assembly solutions provider Kulicke & Soffa also announced losses of USD 110-130 million due to the cancellation of its collaboration with Apple. Additionally, LG Display’s Micro LED development team within the Strategic Customer (SC) department has started downsizing.

Read more

• [News] Why Apple “Unexpectedly Cancels” Micro LED Watch Project?
• [New] The Reality of Micro LED Unveiled – Infinite Opportunities, Yet Initial Capacity Demand Remains Low

(Photo credit: Apple)

TrendForce has released the latest panel quotations for late March. TV panel prices further grew due to the increasing purchasing power; monitor panel demand continue to rise, surpassing expectations; for notebook panel, the lack of clarity in demand release has posed challenges for panel manufacturers to gauge price hikes, forcing them to maintain current prices to avoid further declines.

More details are as follows:

• TV

In March, the purchasing power of TV brands further increased, driving a 7% quarterly growth in procurement for major brands in the first quarter. This also led to a rebound in panel manufacturers’ utilization rates to over 80%.

With the upcoming sports events in the second quarter, new product stocking, and promotional activities like China’s 618 sales, panel prices are expected to rise further. Despite the traditional off-season in the first quarter, brand procurement remains strong, with TV panel prices expected to see expanded increases in March.

Anticipated increases include 1 USD for 32-inch, 2 USD for 43-inch and 50-inch, 3 USD for 55-inch, and 5 USD for 65-inch and 75-inch.

• Monitor

In March, the ongoing price hikes in TV panels have prompted some panel manufacturers to reallocate resources towards TV products. Additionally, while standard surveillance monitor panels continue to incur losses, sales of TV and laptop panels are profitable. This may lead to a reluctance among panel manufacturers to produce surveillance monitor panels.

On the demand side, due to the red sea crisis, some brands need to increase their inventory levels. Coupled with warming demand in certain regional markets and the anticipation of panel price hikes and potential supply shortages, current panel demand orders continue to rise, surpassing expectations. This trend is driving an upward trajectory in panel prices. LCD monitor panel prices, including Open Cell panels and panel modules, are expected to rebound across the board in March.

Open Cell panel prices are projected to increase by approximately 0.5 USD, while prices for 23.8-inch and 27-inch panel modules are expected to rise by 0.3 USD to 0.5 USD.

• Notebook

Entering March, the notebook panel market has reached the end of the first quarter’s off-season. It is currently expected that inventory demand will gradually strengthen from the second quarter onwards. Meanwhile, TV panel prices have been on the rise since February, and monitor (MNT) panel prices are expected to increase from March. These factors have heightened expectations for price hikes in notebook panels.

However, brands are currently relatively conservative in releasing demand, perceiving a sluggish momentum. This lack of clarity in demand release has made it difficult for panel manufacturers to gauge price hikes, leaving them with no choice but to maintain panel prices to prevent further declines.

The expected price trend for notebook panels in March indicates that 16:9 panel models will remain stable overall, while 16:10 panel models may experience slight downward pressure, with anticipated decreases ranging from 0.2 USD to 0.3 USD.

Read more

• [Insights] Late February Panel Prices Update, TV Panel Prices Return to Rising Trend
• [Insights] Early February Panel Prices Update, TV Panel Returns to an Upward Pricing Trend

TrendForce has released the latest panel quotations for early February. Due to the effective production control strategies implemented by panel manufacturers, there is an expectation of gradually stimulating panel demand. It is anticipated that TV panel prices will return to an upward trend in February. Details are as follows:

• TV

From the perspective of panel suppliers, with the reduction in working days and the Lunar New Year holiday in February, it is expected that the average utilization rate will fall below 60%. Coupled with the relatively low TV panel inventory in the supply chain, the production control strategies of panel manufacturers have been effective. There is an anticipation of gradually stimulating the recovery of TV panel demand.

Meanwhile, the upstream supply issues with polarizing film materials have exacerbated, and it is expected that TV panel prices will return to an upward trend in February. Currently, it is expected that 32-inch, 43-inch, and 50-inch panels will increase by 1 USD, 55-inch by 2 USD, and 65-inch and 75-inch by 3 USD in February.

• Monitor

Although monitor panel demand is in the off-season, due to panel production cuts, unstable conditions in the shipping industry, and supply issues with polarizing film materials, some customers are observed to be willing to increase orders to mitigate potential risks. Additionally, with the established upward trend in TV panel prices in February, panel manufacturers are more confident, and it is expected that open-cell panels will increase by 0.1 to 0.2 USD. Panel module prices, however, are expected to remain overall stable.

• Notebook

Notebook panel demand is still in the off-season in the first quarter, and with sluggish demand, brand customers continue to request panel manufacturers to maintain the trend of price reductions. Different panel manufacturers respond differently to this pressure. Newer entrants are actively seeking to expand market share, leading to a more aggressive pricing strategy, putting pressure on existing panel manufacturers. In this competitive situation, notebook panel prices are not easily expected to see a comprehensive stabilization. In February, only TN models are expected to maintain a stable trend, while FHD IPS models are expected to decrease by 0.1 USD, and 16:10 models are expected to decrease by 0.2 to 0.3 USD.