This photo provided by Samsung Display Co. shows the company’s plant in Asan, around 100 kilometers south of Seoul.
SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s two largest display panel makers — Samsung Display Co. and LG Display Co. — are extending their liquid crystal display (LCD) production, industry insiders said Friday, as panel prices continue to rise on robust demand.
Samsung Display CEO Choi Joo-sun recently told employees that the company is reviewing the possibility of extending large-size LCD panel production through the end of next year.
The company originally planned to withdraw from the LCD business last year due to fierce competition with Chinese brands and expedite its migration to next-generation quantum-dot (QD) displays.
LG Display also has been producing LCD TV panels in South Korea far beyond its planned deadline. It previously sought to shut down operations of domestic LCD production lines by the end of last year and focus on expanding OLED capacity.
This photo provided by LG Display Co. shows the company’s plant in Paju, north of Seoul.
Industry insiders said South Korean LCD suppliers’ decision came amid rising panel prices.
According to market researcher Witsview, the average LCD panel price in the first half of May jumped to its highest level since June 2015.
Another market tracker, Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), said LCD panel prices jumped 14.5 percent in the first quarter and that 17 percent growth is expected for the second quarter.
Their prolonged LCD manufacturing operations come after their TV manufacturing affiliates reportedly requested them to continue LCD production.
Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc., the world’s two largest TV vendors, recently said the LCD panel price hike could undermine profitability, with semiconductor shortages also posing a potential problem.
(Yonhap)
