Blog from August 2023

TV

LCD TV Panel Prices Expected to Peak in Q3

August 7, 2023

The rally in LCD TV panel prices, which started in February has continued in the third quarter and has been accompanied by a widespread increase in supply as LCD makers increase utilization. Prices have increased enough to bring many panel makers into positive margins and the TV supply chain is building inventory toward the big selling season in the fourth quarter. We now expect that panel prices will peak in September and that an abundance of supply will lead to prices declining in the fourth quarter.
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Financial

Japanese Glassmakers Follow Corning with Price Increases; Glassmaker Q2 Revenues Increased with Higher Fab Utilization

August 7, 2023

During Display Week 2023 in May, Corning surprised nearly everyone in the display industry by announcing a 20% price increase on all of its display glass products. In the months since then, Corning has established higher prices in its display glass business and the two large Japanese glassmakers, AGC and NEG, have raised prices as well to improve the profitability of their display glass business. The result appears to be a structural reset of display glass pricing, which will increase costs for flat panel displays and may (or may not) reduce panel maker margins.
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Display Equipment

2023 Display Equipment Market Upgraded on Higher LCD and OLED Spending

August 7, 2023

Display equipment spending was upgraded by 30% for 2023 on higher LCD and OLED spending, but is still down a dramatic 62% Y/Y to just $4.6B according to DSCC’s latest Quarterly Display Capex and Equipment Market Share Report. The display equipment market is expected to rebound in 2024, up 74% to $8B, 3% lower than expected with LCD spending 17% higher than expected and OLEDs 15% lower than expected as detailed below.
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OLED

Apple and Samsung Maintain Best Selling OLED Smartphones in Q2’23 But Lose Share to Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi

August 14, 2023

As revealed in DSCC’s latest release of the OLED Shipment Report – Flash Edition, OLED panel shipments increased 10% Q/Q and decreased 2% Y/Y in Q2’23 to 170M units. The Q/Q growth for several applications is a positive sign that indicates that inventory is starting to rebalance for some categories after Y/Y declines in 2022 and double-digit Q/Q and Y/Y declines in Q1’23. In Q2’23, by select OLED applications, smartphones panel shipments increased 4% Q/Q and 1% Y/Y in units and TV panel shipments increased 42% Q/Q and decreased 26% Y/Y in units.
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Foldable

Foldable Smartphones to Reach New High in Q3’23

August 21, 2023

Foldable phone shipments rose 16% Q/Q and 42% Y/Y in Q2’23 to 2.2M units. Samsung held a narrow 32% to 30% advantage over Huawei. Huawei had the #1 and #3 best-selling models, the Mate X3 and Pocket S, while Samsung had the #2 and #4 fastest selling models, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Fold 4. Vivo had the #5 model with the X Flip. Clamshells led the way with a 53% unit share. Samsung Display accounted for a 63% share of all foldable smartphone panels shipped, down from 68% and its lowest share since Q1’21. BOE’s share fell from a record 32% in Q1’23 to 25% in Q2’23.
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DSCC Downgrades Display Capacity Forecast for 7th Straight Quarter, Display Capacity Growth Outlook Continues to Flatten

August 21, 2023

After upgrading display capacity for six straight issues on improved market conditions in LCDs in 2020 and 2021, DSCC has now lowered its display capacity forecast for seven consecutive quarters dating back to Q1’22 on delays, cancellations and fab closures as LCD manufacturers continue to lose money. The latest forecast is down 1% vs. last quarter and 14% from peak levels. Display capacity is now only projected to grow at a 1.1% CAGR from 2022 to 2027, which could lead to another significant shortage if unit or area demand surges.
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TV

Will the US Increase Tariffs on China TVs? Not Likely

August 28, 2023

DSCC has heard from several of our contacts in the industry regarding some concerns about the USA increasing its tariff on TVs imported from China. Each of these contacts mention “rumors” of such an increase, and an article in Digitimes also made reference to such rumors. Our opinion is that these rumors have no basis and are generated from a profound misunderstanding of the US political system and the way such decisions are made.
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Foldable

Highlights from DSCC’s Latest Foldable Report

August 28, 2023

DSCC has released its latest quarterly foldable report, which forecasts foldable smartphone, notebook and tablet shipments out to 2027. The report also reveals each brands’ product plans, display supply chain, regional mix, shipment forecasts, panel price forecasts, phone price forecasts, display film stacks and much more. Highlights of the latest report include:
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