Stocking in advance + high costs, large-size TV and monitor panels are expected to rise in April

On April 7, TrendForce released its panel price forecast for this month. Overall: Large-size TV panel prices are expected to rise in April, while mid-size size prices are expected to remain stable; monitor panel prices are expected to rise; laptop panel prices are expected to remain flat.

TV panels

Entering April, it is observed that some brands still maintain demand for TV panels, especially for large-size panels. At the same time, affected by war-related energy issues and semiconductor production capacity squeeze, the cost of panel components continues to rise. Therefore, panel manufacturers tend to be more positive in terms of panel prices. They hope that TV panels can still maintain an upward trend in April to offset cost pressures.

However, small and medium-sized TV products are currently affected by the increase in storage quotations, and their profit margins are extremely compressed. Therefore, it is estimated that only large-sized TV panels may maintain their growth this month, while small and medium-sized TV panels will begin to freeze. Looking at each size, prices for 32-inch to 55-inch are expected to remain flat, while prices for 65-inch and 75-inch will rise by US$1.

Monitor panel

After entering the second quarter, the demand for LCD panels remains stable. However, although the direct impact of storage prices is small, the components used in the panels themselves are still difficult to resist the price increase trend. Therefore, for panel manufacturers, with relatively stable demand and rising cost pressures, they hope to expand panel price increases to avoid continued expansion of losses due to rising costs.

It is currently expected that the display panel price increase in April will be no less than the increase in March. In terms of open cell panels, 23.8-inch FHD IPS is expected to increase by US$0.3~0.4, and 27-inch FHD IPS is expected to increase by US$0.2~0.3. For panel modules, 23.8-inch FHD IPS is expected to increase by US$0.3, and 27-inch FHD IPS is expected to increase by US$0.2.

In addition, IC quotations related to high-end products have been rising sharply, and it is expected that panel prices may also have room to increase starting this month.

Laptop panel

After entering the second quarter, brand customers have already prepared a large amount of laptop panels in advance before the end of the first quarter. In addition to memory problems, tight CPU supply and rising prices have also formed another bottleneck, affecting the normal supply of brands. Brand customers will prepare products in advance as much as possible to avoid subsequent risks. However, this may cause the demand for laptop panels to gradually weaken from the middle to late second quarter.

At the same time, panel manufacturers are also feeling the pressure of rising component costs, so their attitude toward panel prices is no longer as low as in the past, and they instead hope that panel prices can be supported to reduce possible risks of losses. It is currently estimated that laptop panel prices in April will have the opportunity to remain flat overall as demand may gradually decline and cost pressure increases.