Smartphones are now turning to OLED screens. Larger-size TVs are also using OLED screens. Obviously, there should be changes in the OLED screen market. According to IHS Markets, the global OLED TV shipments increased by 115.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018.
The report shows in the first quarter of 2018, the global TV shipments were 50.6 million units, a year-on-year increase of 7.9%. However, the LCD TVs still led the niche. The number of shipped LCD TVs was 50.1 million units, which accounted for 99% of all shipments. Compared to the Q1 2017, it increased by 7.5%. Thanks to the decline in LCD panel prices at the end of last year and early this year, the upcoming World Cup has also led to an increase in demand for television in emerging markets, especially in Latin America. Compared with LCD TVs, OLED TV shipments are not eye-catching, approximately 470,000 units. But the growth rate is unusually significant, 115.8%.
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So what are the main players going to do? LG Display expects earnings to improve in the second half of the year due to the decline in capacity utilization rates of Chinese chip makers. Probably you are aware of the 100 billion won loss in six years. Analysts said it happened due to a combination of large LCD panel prices and 10.5-generation panel mass production in China. LG is expecting the sales will get better in the second half, driven by increased OLED TV sales. LG’s 8.5G OLED panel factory in Guangzhou, China will begin operating next year. So the smooth conversion of the portfolio into OLED causes no doubts. Moreover, the LCD panel prices that have been dropped about 40% are expected to stabilize from July.
Also Read: Samsung Left With An Excess Of OLED Panels Thanks To iPhone X’s Production Cut?
Samsung Display reported sales of 7.54 trillion won and operating profit of 4.1 billion won in the first quarter. Therefore, the sales increased by 3.4%, while the operating profit fell 68.3%. But the future for Samsung seems brighter. As you know, Apple is going to use OLED screens in all three iPhones. Not in vain, Samsung Securities expects Samsung Display’s 3Q operating profit to reach 1.4 trillion won, up about 40% from 974 billion won in the same period last year.
