A leading market research firm has revealed today (3rd April) that large TFT LCD producers in Korea expect to increase production by 23 per cent this year, EE Times Asia reports.

DisplaySearch conducted a study which found that large Korean producers of the panels - whose substrates make use of platinum - are also looking to increase shipments by 23 per cent.

They intend to focus on notebook PC applications rather than monitors or televisions and plan to use 25 per cent more glass substrate area and manufacture 27 per cent more panels.

Meanwhile, the results of the research - which were published in the inaugural issue of Quarterly Large-Area Production Strategy Report - also showed that Taiwanese producers plan to increase output rapidly in the second half of 2009.

The strategy revolves around primarily increasing their allocation for notebook displays, which will see glass input area rise by 39 per cent in 2H09 and 42 per cent more panels created than in 1H09.

Furthermore, Japanese producers are hoping to bring new capacity online in the second half of the year, with glass input rising by 56 per cent between 1H and 2H and 54 per cent more panels fabricated.

Commenting on the news, David Barnes, DisplaySearch's Vice-President of Strategic Analysis, told the news provider: "Producers plan to shift fabrication of notebook panels to fifth-generation or eighth-generation substrate lines and allocate more sixth-generation capacity for monitor panels.

"Such plans will cause the average monitor panel size to increase and this may improve pricing for leading producers."

Mr Barnes added that PC monitor demand is expected to grow less than notebook PC or television demand, while shipments of panels for mini-note or conventional notebook products could see the highest increase.

Official estimates indicate that the average glass substrate area allocated per panel will decrease by two per cent in 2009.

Source:

Korea, Taiwan panel makers to boost output in '09 (03/04/09)
http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800568752_480200_NT_877bc095.HTM