China touch panel makers shipped 148.8 million touch panels in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to the latest DIGITIMES Research China Touch Panel Tracker. The report for the first quarter indicated that shipments will drop about 5% on seasonality.
However, some segments in the market will see growth in the first quarter. From the fourth quarter of 2013 to the first quarter of 2014, China touch panel makers' largest growth will be in the notebook and large tablet segment (larger than 11-inches), with makers such as O-Film Technology and Mutto Technology focusing on metal mesh thin-film technology. The technology coupled with the makers' low-cost advantages gave the China makers 110.7% on-quarter shipment growth in the fourth quarter of 2013 and will give them another 13.4% on-quarter growth in the first quarter of 2014 despite the first quarter traditionally being a slow shipment period in the market, according to Digitimes Research.
In terms of touch panels used in handset applications, the makers' overall shipment proportion of thin-film type panels will rise to 71.1% in the first quarter of 2014 due to demand for the technology in entry-level and mid-range handsets from vendors such as Samsung Electronics, Huawei Device, Lenovo and Xiaomi. O-Film is expected to see some of the biggest increases in shipments for the technology during the quarter following shipments of 30 million units in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Regarding tablet touch panel applications for sizes below 11-inch, China makers are seeing orders largely from Samsung and Lenovo and saw 24.3% shipment growth in the fourth quarter of 2013 as a result. Samsung and Lenovo are continuing to put in orders throughout the first quarter of 2014 while at the same time the China makers are seeing decreased demand for glass-type touch panels, causing the makers' shipments of thin-film touch panels to exceed glass-type ones for the first time ever. O-Film is expected to see the biggest growth for tablet thin-film touch panel shipments during the first quarter of 2014 at 8.57 million units or 40.1% on-quarter growth, said Digitimes Research.
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About DIGITIMES Research
DIGITIMES Research is the research arm of DIGITIMES Inc., Taiwan's leading high-tech media outlet. Operating as an independent business unit, DIGITIMES Research focuses on monitoring key high-tech industries, while also guiding clients toward suitable new business as well. Market intelligence and analysis is provided to more than 1,000 corporate customers worldwide. Research and consulting services cover a full range of industries, including information and communications technology (ICT), flat panel display (FPD), renewable energy and semiconductor design and manufacturing.
