Global shipments of LCD panels set an all-time high again last month, as computer and television makers started restocking after inventories fell and concern over demand next quarter eased, a local market research firm said.
Last month, shipments of PC and TV panels expanded 8.5 percent to 55.8 million units, from the 51.44 million units shipped in April, according to the latest statistics compiled by TrendForce Corp (集邦科技), formerly known as DRAMeXchange Technology Inc.
Electronics makers “are aggressively restocking inventories in preparation for the third quarter in expectation that supply could not reach parity with demand,” the Taipei-based researcher said in a survey released on Tuesday.
TrendForce said in April that PC and TV makers were unwilling to buy panels as they waited for prices to drop and for more positive signs of a demand pickup in the second half of the year.
Starting next quarter, electronics makers will step up promotion activities as PCs and TVs enter their high season, the reseacher said.
In China, there would be promotions for TV sales during the holiday season beginning on Oct. 1, it said.
TrendForce expected falling inventories and improving end product demand would spur demand for panels, but this could be weakened by the earlier-than-usual inventory buildup, it said.
The market researcher forecast in April that overall shipments of PC and TV panels in the second quarter would grow 2 percent from 148 million units.
Major LCD panel makers — including AU Optronics Corp (友達光電) and Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd (中華映管) — said last week that recovering demand, primarily from China and the US, have boosted their factory usage to full.
AU Optronics, the nation’s No. 2 flat panel maker, said the European debt crisis was not a top concern as consumers in other major European countries were still buying electronics. Meanwhile, Chunghwa Picture Tubes said it expected quarterly shipments to grow 10 percent sequentially.
Shares of AU Optronics and Chimei Innolux Corp (奇美電子) have risen for the past four consecutive trading sessions to NT$31.30 and NT$36 respectively on Tuesday. The local stock market was closed yesterday because of a national holiday.
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