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Nov 24, 08:47
Display demand is rising—but OLED’s climb puts LCD makers on edge
The global display panel market is forecast to expand to US$131.5 billion by 2026, despite significant changes in the industry landscape. While overall output and value are rising, the growing adoption of OLED technology is exerting pressure on high-end LCD segments, particularly in Taiwan, where the display sector remains heavily reliant on LCD production and is reorienting its strategies.
Chinese panel maker Visionox's 8.6-generation OLED production line is reportedly set to bring in several types of South Korean equipment, including machinery related to flexible OLED panels used in smartphones and other mobile devices. According to ET News, citing data from the China Government Procurement Network, South Korean equipment companies AP Systems, ICD, and Synus Tech have all been selected for Visionox's 8.6-generation equipment procurement tender list.
China's BOE has reportedly lost its planned OLED panel supply for Apple's iPhone 17 due to unresolved quality issues. Samsung Display will take over the supply, increasing shipments to 90 million units, while BOE's contribution is expected to fall below 40 million, highlighting ongoing challenges in the Chinese panel maker's entry into high-end smartphone displays.
LG Display (LGD) is accelerating the transformation of its revenue structure by focusing on high-value products such as large-size panels and OLEDs, amid a significant rise in average unit area selling prices and increased area demand, which has thus also raised expectations for improved profits at LGD.
After three years of legal battles over OLED patents, Samsung Display and Beijing Oriental Electronics (BOE) have settled. According to several South Korean media outlets, including ET News and The Elec, BOE will pay patent royalties to Samsung Display as part of a licensing contract.
The wave of panel-factory shutdowns continues, with AUO Corp. confirming the sale of another facility. On November 14, the company said it will dispose of its Hsinchu L3C plant and related assets to Powertech Technology for NT$6.898 billion (approx. US$221.5 million), generating an expected disposal gain of NT$3.85 billion. AUO said the move supports a light-asset operating model, asset activation, and financial optimisation.

The outlook for South Korea's two major display makers—LG Display (LGD) and Samsung Display (SDC)—is strengthening as both companies move toward improved performance in the large-size OLED market. LG Display's white-OLED (WOLED) business is expected to turn an annual profit for the first time, while SDC is narrowing losses in its QD-OLED operations by focusing on the high-margin monitor segment.

AUO is accelerating its development of artificial intelligence hardware, unveiling what it claims is the world's first ultra-low-power LTPS display panel. The company is simultaneously intensifying its investments in Micro LED and silicon photonics, positioning itself to capitalize on surging AI-driven demand across the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
LED firm Edison Opto reported weak results for its lighting products in the third quarter of 2025, with shipments to customers in the Middle East and Europe falling short of expectations. The company posted a net loss of NT$23.11 million (US$0.74 million) for the quarter, while automotive product shipments remained stable.
DDI supplier Ilitek held an earnings call on November 12, 2025, attributing its third-quarter revenue growth to the completion of platform transitions by key customers and the start of OLED DDI product shipments. Early stocking ahead of the long holiday also boosted growth across the company's three main product lines.
Market researchers now expect Mini LED televisions to ship at nearly twice the volume of OLED sets in 2025 — roughly 1.8 times as many — marking a decisive shift in the premium TV landscape. Much of the momentum comes from Chinese brands TCL and Hisense, which have emerged as the dominant forces in the Mini LED segment, while Samsung's share has slipped as it concentrates more heavily on OLED models.
Apex Material Technology, a manufacturer specializing in touch panels and optical lamination services, reported revenue and profit growth in the third quarter of 2025, driven by rising shipments for medical applications and a rebound in demand from the industrial control sector. Management anticipates that continued sales growth from US and European medical clients, as well as steady expansion in industrial control and transportation markets, will support performance in the upcoming quarter and throughout 2026.