LCD panel prices will continue to move up this month, driven by a ramp-up in demand for TVs, notebooks and PC monitors, and also by shortages of some key components, according to industry sources.

In Taiwan, the supply of LCD driver ICs and power management ICs is getting tight due to insufficient capacity support from the local 8-inch foundries amid strong demand for related chips from the notebook sector. Although some IC suppliers have switched their production to 12-inch fabs, the longer lead time at these fabs has affected shipments from panel makers, said the sources.

While China-based panel makers have ramped up their capacities recently, their supplies of panels reportedly have been affected by a shortage of glass substrates, added the sources.

According to Sigmaintell Consulting, quotes for 32-inch TV panels will go up US$3 in September; those for 39.5- to 43-inch models will edge up US$5; 50- and 55-inch ones will move up US$6-7; and those for 65- and 75-inch panels will rise US$5.

Meanwhile, mainstream notebook panels will go up US$0.30-0.40 in September, and quotes for monitor panels will move up by US$0.20-0.80. The price increases are reflecting strong demand from the IT sector and tight supplies of key materials, said sources.

Taiwan-based panel maker Innolux has reported revenues grew 2.8% on month and 16.1% on year to NT$24.4 billion (US$833.21 million) in August.

The company's shipments of small- to medium-size panels increased 5.2% sequentially to 25.26 million units in August, while its large-size panel shipments edged down 2.1% to 12.29 million units.

HannStar Display posted revenues of NT$1.907 billion for August, up 29.2% on month and 46.1% on year. Its shipments of small- to medium-size panels totaled 77.38 million units, up 72.5% sequentially; shipments of large-size monitor panels and own-brand products reached 230,000 units, up 165.7% on month.

Giantplus Technology's revenues increased 7.77% sequentially to NT$595 million in August. But its revenues for the January-August period went down 24.99% on year to NT$4.487 billion.

By DIGITIMES