The LCD prices have been going up in recent months as consumers started to buy more devices equipped with LCD panels as they try to be contact free to stop the spread of COVID-19. It is expected that the prices will continue to go up even in 2021 as the global pandemic continues on.
According to a market research company Omdia, the price of 55-inch UHD LCD TV panels was calculated to be $170 last month. The price had been going up continuously since June and reached its highest point last year. Considering the fact that the price was $100 in November last month, the price jumped whopping 70% in just one year.
The price of 65-inch panels has also been going up. It has been at least $200 for two months in a row as the price went up $15 since last month. The price of 43-inch Full HD LCD panels surpassed $100 for the first time this year. The price of 32-inch HD panels also recorded its highest value in recent years at $61. This number is unusual considering that many consumers have been preferring UHD recently.
All of these trends is likely the result of an increase in number of consumers who purchase small and medium-sized TVs in order to play games and watch online videos in addition to an increase in number of consumers who purchase TVs just to watch different contents in their living rooms. One representative from the industry said that there have been more demands for TVs due to the current COVID-19 situation and that the price of LCD TV panels is likely to increase continuously at least until the first quarter of 2021.
The global display industry sees limitation in traveling between countries in order to prevent cross-infection of COVID-19 as the main reason to the recent increase in the LCD panel prices. In other words, the limitation has had a major impact on outputs of LCD panels. In fact, it is reported that the operation rate of plants of a Chinese company that is leading the global LCD market fell about 20% when COVID-19 first started to spread.
South Korea’s display industry is also making necessary decisions and preparations in order to benefit from the increase in the LCD panel prices. LG Display was planning to stop domestic LCD production for TVs this year and focus on shifting towards OLED production. However, it has yet to stop the production due to the increase in the LCD prices and increased demands for displays. It decided to be flexible while considering requests from its customers and available personnel. Samsung Display, which is pushing QD (Quantum Dot) display as its new growth engine, has decided to temporarily continue its LCD business, until March next year when it planned to withdraw from the business by the end of this year initially.
Staff Reporter Yun, Heeseok | pioneer@etnews.com