TV sets’ sell-in this year is projected to reach 24 per cent, which is lower than the 2019 figure of 31 per cent, thereby generating an upward momentum for TV panel prices
Yearly TV panel shipment for 2020 is projected to reach 267.53 million units, a 6.2 per cent decrease YoY, while shipment by area is projected to increase by 0.7 per cent YoY, coming to 169.6 million square meters, according to TrendForce’s latest investigations.
“The decrease can mostly be attributed to three factors: first, the trend of gradual increases in TV sizes; second, the slowdown in capacity expansions for panel fabs; and finally, the continued high demand for IT panels, the manufacturing of which crowded out fab capacities for TV panels,” read a report by TrendForce.
It continued, “Furthermore, due to the aforementioned decreases in TV panel capacity and TV panel shipment, the glut ratio of TV panel shipment vs. TV set sell-in this year is projected to reach 24 per cent, which is lower than the 2019 figure of 31 per cent, thereby generating an upward momentum for TV panel prices.”
Average size of TV panels will likely further increase to 50 inches
The cyclical upturn in TV sets, as per the report, has ramped up the demand for large-sized display products, gradually pushing the average TV panel size towards 48.7 inches. However, given the manufacturers’ limited capacity expansion, the supply of TV panels has remained tight, and the glut ratio of TV panel shipment vs TV set sell-in is projected to decrease to about nine per cent in 2H20.
“That means TV panel prices can rise by up to 30 per cent and 10 per cent QoQ on average in 3Q20 and 4Q20, respectively,” read the report.
In terms of TV panel shipment by area, total shipment is projected to increase by 3.5 per cent YoY in 2021, reaching 175.5 million square meters. On the other hand, the average size of TV panels will likely further increase to 50 inches, while the interplay between supply and demand is expected to result in a 20 per cent glut ratio of TV panel shipment vs.
“TV set sell-in in 2021 compared to 24 per cent in 2020, meaning the market’s shortage situation is expected to persist,” read TrendForce’s report.