TV panel prices rose by 2 to 5% in February

Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the supply of large-size panels decreased by 20% to 30% in February, coupled with brand pursuits, pushing up the price of TV panels by 2% to 5% in February. According to the latest panel quotes from WitsView, the prices of 43-inch and 55-inch panels have increased sharply by $ 3 to $ 5 a month. Even the prices of IT panels have stopped falling. Some low-priced IT panels have the opportunity to increase their prices.

WitsView Vice President Qiu Yubin said that under the influence of the pneumonia epidemic, the mainland's domestic panel plants have not reached full capacity, such as the new 10.5 generation plant of BOE Wuhan has been put into operation, and Samsung, LGD in South Korea and Suzhou ’s panel plants in Guangzhou Motion was also impacted. Because TV panels are mostly shipped in the form of open cell panels, the front stage is highly automated, and shipments are relatively unaffected. It is estimated that TV panel supply in February decreased by 20%. However, the IT panel is affected by the lack of connection between panel module related materials and the poor resumption status of downstream system factories, and the supply volume is estimated to have decreased by 30%.

The decrease in the number of panel supply in February, coupled with the brand's eagerness to chase up the price, helped increase the price of TV panels in February. Qiu Yubin said that the 55-inch panel continued the effect of closing the Korean panel factory in the fourth quarter of last year, and supply was the most tight. The increase in February was as high as US $ 4 to US $ 5, and the price regained the 100-yuan mark, with a monthly increase of more than 5%. The main demand for 43-inch 4K TVs is in overseas markets. As brand manufacturers have shifted their sales focus from the Chinese market to overseas markets, the recent momentum of pulling goods has strengthened, driving the price of 43-inch 4K panels to rise by 3 to 4 US dollars. The 65-inch panel was also put into operation because of the delay in the new capacity of BOE's 10.5 generation plant. The market believes that the supply has converged, so the price has increased by $ 3 this month. In terms of other sizes, including 32-inch, 43-inch FHD, and 50-inch panels, the average increase in February was 2 to 3 US dollars. Even the 75-inch panels that have actively cut prices to stimulate demand have stopped falling this month. .

As for the IT panel, because most of the IT panels are shipped in modules, the panel modules have more components and more manpower, so the output is more affected than the TV panels. And the laptop foundries are all in China, and this wave of resumption of work is slower and more affected. Although the first quarter is the traditional off-season of IT products, due to the significant reduction in panel supply, the prices of notebook and monitor panels have remained flat in February. Some products, such as 21.5-inch TN monitor panels, have experienced excessive price declines and poor profitability in the past. There is still a chance to increase the price slightly.

Qiu Yubin said that panel prices are expected to continue to rise in March, but as production capacity increases and supply conditions improve, the increase may not be as large as in February. Follow-up should also observe the supply chain material conditions, and changes in sales conditions in the end market. (Taiwan Business Times)