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Rising semiconductor foundry and outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) costs since 2025, along with continued increases in precious metal prices, are placing growing cost pressure on display driver IC (DDIC) suppliers, according to the latest research from TrendForce. In response, some vendors have recently begun discussions with panel makers to evaluate the possibility of adjusting DDIC pricing.
TrendForce’s latest findings show that global OLED monitor shipments hit 2.735 million units in 2025, a 92% YoY increase. This impressive growth was mainly fueled by aggressive promotional efforts by brands in the fourth quarter. Furthermore, 27-inch 240 Hz QHD models gained considerable popularity due to their excellent price-to-performance ratio, significantly increasing shipments. The launch of new 280 Hz models further energized the market.
According to TrendForce’s latest research on the display panel industry, technological upgrades, rising production cost pressure, and the gradual ramp-up of new 8.6-gen fabs are reshaping the LCD manufacturing landscape.
TrendForce’s latest research on smartphone panels reveals that shortages and rising memory prices—one of the most costly components in smartphones—are reshaping brand shipment strategies for 2026 and weakening panel demand.
On February 10th, Sharp announced plans to halt production at its K2 facility, a Gen 8 LCD plant in Kameyama (2160 x 2460 mm), and to seek a potential buyer for the site. The K2 plant has been a key pillar of Sharp’s display business, producing panels for notebooks, tablets, e-paper devices, and smartphones, and has long underpinned Sharp’s role as Apple’s third-largest IT panel supplier. It is also a critical source of oxide backplanes for e-paper applications. If output at the Kameyama K2 plant is scaled back as planned, the short-term supply of Apple’s MacBook and iPad models—as well as e-paper products—could face disruption.
