According to WitsView, the panel research division of TrendForce, large-sized panel shipments in May-12 amounted to 64.43 million units with MoM increase of 6.7%.

In 2011, the LCD panel industry was hit hard by the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, worsening credit crisis in Europe and the US, and China’s economic growth slowdown. Not only did this put panel makers’ businesses in the red, it also dealt a severe blow to the consumer market confidence.

Based on the past experience, the first quarter is a time of traditionally slow season for the panel industry, as well as a time of the most dramatic price decline in component prices. However, market conditions are quite different this quarter.

依照過去經驗，第一季屬於面板產業傳統的需求淡季，也成為相關零組件價格下滑最劇烈的一個季度。然而本季的情況卻有很大的不同。WitsView研究經理邱宇彬表示，訂單的減少與利潤的下滑不但是引發面板廠要求材料廠商降價的兩大動機，同時也成為其議價時最有利的後盾。然而目前淡季不淡的需求讓面板出貨量一直在高檔盤旋，而呈現漲勢的面板價格更讓面板廠的獲利不降反升，兩者皆大幅地削弱了面板廠的要價氣勢，也間接影響到材料廠商配合降價的意願。除此之外，新奇美成軍後所造成的供應鏈洗牌效應也尚未發酵，零組件廠商彼此間降價搶單的情況並不多見，也讓1Q10整體材料成本下滑的情況不若以往。

Taipei, August 6, 2008---According to WitsView’s 1HAug price survey, IT panels will drop by 7~9%, while TV panels will slip by another 3~5%. There is a chance in seeing monitor panel prices falling past their fully-loaded cost in August. There is even a possibility to witness prices falling near the cash cost level, which would mark the lowest acceptable ASP for panel makers.

Taipei, August 3, 2008---The recent large-sized panel price drops has once again highlighted the profitability pressure panel makers now face. Thus, their demand on upstream component makers for additional cost downs has grown as well. According to WitsView’s latest report, the panel material cost down will be more severe in 3Q08 than in previous quarters.