Global shipments of LCD TV panels for 2016 fell 3.5% from the prior year to around 260.4 million units, according to the latest report by WitsView, a division of TrendForce. Major panel makers expanded their Gen-8.5 production capacity during 2016 in response to the rising demand for larger TV panels. The increased production in the large-size segments helped consume the overall panel capacity and increased the average size of TV panels by 2.2 inches to 43.6 inches. Shipments of TV panels by area therefore actually increased by 6.5% annually. WitsView expects the average size of TV panels to increase again in 2017.
The latest research on touch display solutions by WitsView, a division of TrendForce, finds that the share of In-Cell products in the global smartphone display market will expand to 29.6% by the end of 2017. The recent rapid adoption of In-Cell solutions among panel makers is due to the increase in the supply of IC components related to Touch with Display Driver Integration (TDDI).
WitsView, a division of TrendForce, reports that global shipments of LCD panels for TVs totaled 22.79 million units in November, representing a slight decrease of 0.9% compared with October. Even though the stock-up demand related the North American holiday season and Singles’ Day in China receded during November, TV panel shipments remained strong as branded TV makers continued to replenish their inventories for the upcoming Chinese New Year sales.
WitsView, a division of TrendForce, reports that upstream LCD component suppliers based in China have significantly expanded their manufacturing capabilities through 2016 and will become stronger competitors against their international first-tier counterparts in 2017. As more advanced LCD panel fabs (Gen-8 and above) are being built in China and begin operation, local suppliers of materials and components such as glass substrates and polarizers are gearing up to fulfill their demand.
Shipments of LCD TV sets worldwide for 2016 are estimated to grow by 1.9% annually to around 220 million units, according to the latest analysis by WitsView, a division of TrendForce. At the start of 2017, the U.S. consumer market will be bumpy in the short term due to the results of the country’s presidential election. If the U.S. Federal Reserve decides to raise the key interest rates next year, domestic consumer spending will recover and the country will again play a major role in sustaining global TV sales. WitsView forecasts that global TV shipments for 2017 will reach 225 million units, up 2.5% compared with the prior year.