About 40% Growth Expected in 2020
TV industry insiders forecast that only OLED TVs will continue to grow as overall display panel demand has been falling due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
Market researcher Omdia recently said in a report that the COVID-19 outbreak could be a driving force for the growth of active organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) TV panels. “In 2020, demand for OLED TV panels will swell 39 percent to 4.2 million square meters from a year ago.”
On the contrary, LCD panel shipments are expected to decrease by 9 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year as panel prices rise despite a contraction in TV set sales due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. However, demand for 65-inch or larger LCD panels is expected to increase rapidly as Chinese companies including BOE and China Star are ramping up output from their 10.5-generation production lines.
LG Display is virtually monopolizing the market of OLED panels for TV and LG Electronics is also leading the TV market by preoccupying 56 percent of the European premium OLED TV market with the OLED brand.
Meanwhile, Omdia forecast that the overall smartphone display market will shrink by 10 percent from 2019, while AMOLED demand will increase by 11 percent. It is expected that the adoption of OLED panels will be increased not only by Samsung but by Apple and Chinese smartphone manufacturers. In this market, Samsung Display is leading the market with a more than 80 percent market share and LG Display among others are in pursuit of it.
Accordingly, in 2020, total OLED panel shipments area including those of OLED panels for TVs and smartphones are expected to increase by 20 percent from the previous year.