Industry news

Taiwan-based TFT-LCD panel makers generated total production value of NT$164.135 billion (US$5.13 billion) in the second quarter of 2016, increasing 1.90% on quarter but decreasing 19.99% on year, according to Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association (PIDA).

The production value for the first half of 2016 stood at NT$308.244 billion, slipping 18.99% sequentially and 27.00% on year.

Although Taiwan-based makers will see full utilization of production capacities in the fourth quarter of 2016, competition will be increasing from China-based makers, PIDA said.

This is because only China-based TFT-LCD panel makers have been expanding production capacities on a large scale in recent years, PIDA noted. There have been more than 10 new 4.5th- to 6th-generation (4.5-6G) LTPS (low-temperature poly-Si) TFT-LCD factories coming into operation or under construction and more than eight new 8.5G large-size TFT-LCD panel factories starting production in China, PIDA said. In addition, BOE Technology and China Star Optoelectronics Technology plan to set up a 10.5G factory and an 11G one respectively, PIDA indicated.