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Apr 29
Analysis: Taiwan's two major panel makers enter semiconductor packaging; CPO and FOPLP become key
Optical communication technology is shifting from traditional pluggable optics toward co-packaged optics (CPO) architectures. Advanced packaging technologies are extending from wafer-level to panel-level, bringing fan-out panel-level packaging (FOPLP) into the spotlight. At the intersection of these trends, Taiwan's panel manufacturers are actively entering the semiconductor packaging field in search of new growth momentum.
South Korea's global OLED market share increased by 1.5pp to 68.7% in 2025, marking its first rise in a decade and drawing widespread attention. According to Chosun Biz, the Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA) cited Omdia data showing South Korean companies regained ground in the OLED sector after years of decline.
More than 70 years after its founding, China Electric Manufacturing Corporation has built a steady market position under its "TOA" lighting brand. Now, the company is turning to artificial intelligence in an effort to revive growth.

For more than a decade, the global imaging market has been defined by a clear divide: on one side, rugged, lightweight action cameras built for stability and portability; on the other, professional DSLR and mirrorless systems designed to push the limits of optical physics and image quality. In 2026, that boundary is beginning to collapse.

AU Optronics reported first-quarter 2026 consolidated revenue of NT$69.03 billion (US$2.19 billion) and a net loss attributable to parent shareholders of NT$1.14 billion, the firm announced at an investor briefing on April 30. Revenue fell 1.6% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2025 and declined 4.3% year-on-year, while basic earnings per share were a loss of NT$0.15.
Samsung Electronics reported a sharp increase in first-quarter 2026 profitability, led by its semiconductor division, as AI-driven demand for memory chips continued to accelerate. The company's chip unit delivered an operating profit of approximately KRW53.7 trillion (US$360 billion), accounting for the vast majority of group earnings and marking a significant expansion from the prior year.
As global companies race to capture opportunities in AI optical communications and co-packaged optics (CPO), Taiwanese LED and optoelectronics firms are actively transforming and entering the field. Everlight Electronics, a leading LED packaging company, has also begun low-profile positioning, considering investments in related startups and leveraging its strengths in high-end optocouplers to play a key role in optical signal transmission and coupling.
Japan Display Inc. (JDI) is accelerating its withdrawal from the low-temperature polycrystalline silicon panel market by selling its Tottori plant to Yahata Toei Real Estate, a deal expected to close by September 30, 2026. The Tottori factory stopped production in March 2025, following the closure of the Mobara plant in November 2025.
When the avocado has two hours left, the AI takes over.
As color electronic paper technology matures, the e-reader market is entering a new growth phase—one that could reshape global reading habits and retail channels. Consumers worldwide may see broader access to color devices, evolving purchase patterns in convenience retail, and sustained demand for monochrome readers that support diverse market segmentation.
Asia Optical has signed a memorandum of understanding with Frore Systems to jointly develop liquid-cooling solutions for artificial intelligence data centers, as surging computing demands intensify the challenge of heat management.
LG Display approved an investment of KRW1.1 trillion (approx. US$740 million) to build OLED technology infrastructure. The move, running from April 22, 2026, to June 30, 2028, could affect global display supply chains, technology competition, and investment flows in advanced OLED development and will significantly broaden research partnerships worldwide.