LCD panel prices will continue rising in March after moving up in February, as supply remains constrained due to shortages of upstream chips and materials despite strong demand from downstream clients, according to industry sources.

Clients are aggressively moving to replenish inventories for LCD panels to meet strong retail sales of TVs and other devices supporting stay-at-home economy in the US and Europe markets, but shortages of driver ICs and glass substrates continue to worsen, affecting actual shipments of different sizes of panels and pushing up their prices as a result, the sources said.

China-based research firm Sigmaintell estimates average selling prices (ASP) for 32-inch LCD TV panels to rise by US$3 from February to US$75 in March, and that for 43-inch ones to advance US$5 reaching US$127. Prices for large-size TV panels ranging from 50 to 75 inches are expected to see an average hike of US$7.

As Samsung Display will terminate supply of LCD monitor panels later in first-quarter 2021, overall supply of such panels will become increasingly tight with their capacity squeezed by TV and notebook panel production, the sources said.

Sigmaintell estimates the ASP for 21.5-inch LCD modules for monitors may rise by US$3 on month to US$55 in March, compared to a corresponding gain of US$2.5 for 23.8-inch offerings and a hike of US$2 for 27-inch ones.

It estimates 14-inch HD TN panel modules for Chrombooks may advance by US$1.5-2, and mainstream 14-inch and 15.6-inch IPS panel modules for notebooks could rise by US$1-1.5 in March.

By DIGITIMES