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 February.

TV panel prices shall rise in February due to low inventory stimulating demand; Monitor panel demand remains steady, with some increase due to TV panel price trends; Notebook panel demand declines, with prices expected to drop for FHD IPS and 16:10 models in February. More details are as follows:

• TV

Despite the reduced demand, panel manufacturers continue to adjust supply capacity to match. Due to fewer working days in February and the Lunar New Year holiday, the average utilization rate is expected to drop to below 60%. 

With TV panel inventory not high in the supply chain, manufacturers’ production control strategies have successfully stimulated a gradual recovery in TV panel demand. Customers may advance some demand, so it is anticipated that TV panel prices will return to an upward trend in February.

Currently, it is expected that prices for 32-inch, 43-inch, and 50-inch panels will increase by 1 USD, while 55-inch panels will rise by 2 USD, 65-inch panels by 3  USD, and 75-inch panels by 2 USD in February.

• Monitor

Although demand for monitor panels is currently in the off-season, factors such as reduced working days in February, panel production cuts, and unstable shipping conditions are prompting some customers to increase orders. 

Additionally, with the established upward trend in TV panel prices in February, there is a chance for monitor panel prices, especially Open Cell panels, which are more closely linked to TV panels, to stabilize. 

It is expected that in February, Open Cell panel prices may increase by 0.1 to 0.2 USD, while panel module prices will remain generally stable.

• Notebook

The demand for notebook panels remains in the off-season during the first quarter, especially as some customers maintained momentum in the fourth quarter of last year, resulting in higher inventory levels. 

Therefore, they significantly reduced order volumes in the first quarter and also demanded panel manufacturers to maintain the trend of price reductions. In this weak demand environment, panel manufacturers are less likely to hold stable prices. 

Different strategies among panel manufacturers also increase the chances of continued downward trends in notebook panel prices, and the time for a comprehensive turnaround has not yet arrived. 

It is expected that in February, only TN models of notebook panel prices may remain stable, while FHD IPS models are expected to decline by 0.1 USD, and 16:10 models are expected to decline by 0.2 to 0.3 USD.

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• [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.

According to the latest panel price data released by TrendForce in late December, due to subdued demand at the year-end, prices for panels in the TV, monitor, and notebook (NB) segments have all experienced declines. Details are as follows:

TV Panel:

As we approach the year-end, with less-than-ideal results from the Black Friday promotions, there’s only a modest demand rebound observed for channel-owned brands with better sales performance. Major first-tier brands continue to adjust their panel order demands.

However, panel manufacturers are actively controlling output and inventory levels through production cuts. They even announced a nearly two-week annual preventive maintenance during the Lunar New Year in the first quarter of the coming year to ease the pressure of falling prices, while creating an atmosphere conducive to a potential reversal in panel prices.

Due to the signs of an expanding production cut, the current observed decline in TV panel prices in December is comparable to November, with a $2 decline for 32″ and 43″, a $3 decline for 50″, a $2 decline for 55″, and a $3 decline for 65″ and 75″.

Monitor Panel:

For monitor panels, demand has remained weak throughout the fourth quarter. Panel manufacturers had only made slight concessions in prices for high-end models in the past few months. However, entering December, the pressure of price declines has extended to mainstream panel specifications. To maintain shipping momentum, some panel manufacturers have noticeably softened their pricing stance. The observed decline in December is expected to be $0.2 for 23.8″ Open Cell panels and $0.1 for 21.5″, 23.8″, and 27″ panels.

NB Panel:

In terms of notebook panels, demand has significantly weakened in the fourth quarter. Faced with the pressure to maintain shipping momentum, panel manufacturers are experiencing changes in the previously stable panel prices over the past few months. As a result, buyers are beginning to have more negotiating power.

Observing panel prices in December, apart from 11.6″ and 14″/15.6″ TN models maintaining stability due to lower prices and limited supply, prices for 14″/15.6″ IPS models are expected to see a slight decline of $0.1.

The latest panel price update from TrendForce in early December indicates that prices for TV, notebook, and monitor panels will all decline this month due to the continued weakening of end-user demand. Detailed analysis is as follows:

• TV Panel

Entering the fourth quarter, including promotions on Double Eleven and Black Friday, the results have been less than satisfactory. As a result, brands continue to revise down their demand for TV panels.

Panel manufacturers are responding to the declining demand by consistently reducing production, and the extent of production cuts continues to expand. This strategy aims to slow down the pace of price decline.

It is currently anticipated that the price decline for TV panels in December will slightly widen. Prices are expected to drop by USD 2 dollars for 32″ and 43″, USD 3 dollars for 50″ and 55″, and USD 4 dollars for 65″ and 75″.

• MNT Panel

As for monitor panels, demand has noticeably weakened since the fourth quarter. However, in the past few months, price declines have been observed only in high-end models.

Nevertheless, with some panel manufacturers leading the way by adopting a softer stance on mainstream panel prices, a downward trend in mainstream panel prices has emerged in December.

Currently, the expected decline for December is as follows: a decrease of USD 0.2 dollars for 23.8″ Open Cell panels, and a decrease of USD 0.1 dollars for 21.5″, 23.8″, and 27″.

• NB Panel

As for notebook panels, demand has similarly experienced a noticeable decline starting from the fourth quarter, with a trend of continuous downward revisions month by month.

Under the pressure of a sudden drop in demand, there is a growing noise demanding a decline in panel prices. In the past one or two months, panel manufacturers have mostly made concessions in higher-end specifications and 16:10 models to maintain the stability of mainstream 16:9 model prices.

However, it is expected that panel manufacturers may find it challenging to resist brand pressure this month, and the panel prices for mainstream FHD IPS models are anticipated to see a slight decrease of USD 0.1 dollar.

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• [Insights] Late-November Price Update: Tug of War in Prices! Drop Anticipated in Large-sized High-end Monitor Panel