TrendForce: September 4K TV Panel Shipment Continued to Peak

According to the shipment survey by WitsView, the display research division of the global market intelligence provider TrendForce, the large-sized panel shipment in September 2013 reached 69.18 million units, declining 1.3% MoM.  The restocking demand for Oct 1^st holidays in China lifted the TV panel shipment and the September LCD TV panel shipment rose 1.3% MoM to 19.57 million units, and among these, the 4K panel shipment reached a new high with 39% growth.

The IT panel market was constrained due to the limited end demand and the downstream brands’ conservative purchase strategies, and the shipment growth trimmed from the previous month. The monitor panel shipment declined 4.1% MoM to 13.52 million units, while the shipment for the 10.1”-and-above NB panels came to 15.07 million units, dropping 9% MoM. The new tablets, including iPad5 and Kindle Fire HDX series that are about to hit the market, boost the panel demand, and the overall tablet panel shipment attained 21.01 million units, growing 4.4% MoM.


Source:WitsView

As the promotional period of Mid-Autumn and Oct 1^st ended, the overall LCD TV sales result declined from the same period last year, meeting the market’s expectation, due to the withdrawal of subsidy policy. The promotional core has shifted from last year’s 3D and high-efficient TVs to smart internet connection and 50”-and-above large cheap TVs. In addition, the 4K TV has performed an ideal sales result with brands’ strong promotional campaign.  

WitsView research manager Jeffy Chen indicates that with Chinese brands’ heating up demand for 4K TVs, the 4K TV panel shipment grew largely 39% from the previous month in September, seeing a single-month shipment of 0.53 million units. Innolux stayed ahead of all panel makers with its 4K TV panel shipment largely rising 52% from the previous month, and its 4K TV panel shipment accumulated from Jan. to Sep. officially topped the one-million-unit mark, leading its rivals.

Chen further indicates that for the 4K TVs’ shipments by sizes, the 50” and the 55” secured the No.1 and No.2 places with 25% and 22%, respectively. The 4K TV panels under 50”, including the 39” and the 42”, accounted for 40% of the market, clearly indicating Chinese brands’ ambition to include the high, mid, and low ends to the 4K series of products they are building.

Based on WitsView’s estimate, the overall large-sized panel shipment in October is likely to rise 1-2% from September. Except for the tablet panel shipment that continues to grow 15-20%, the TV panel shipment may see an adjustment in October after the restocking peak in August and September, expected to drop 4-5%. The IT panel market continues to weaken with the monitor panel shipment and the NB panel shipment decreasing 4% and 9% respectively.