Large-sized panel shipments rise by 6.6pc MoM in April

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: According to WitsView’s latest survey, global large-sized panel shipments (including the 8.9” and above) reached 37.92 million units in Apr09, up by 6.6 percent MoM.

TFT-LCD Panel Shipment in Apr-09 (K units)Compared to the same period of last year, an increase was finally witnessed, where they inched up by 3.7 percent. Since the market rebound, it has led to more aggressive inventory replenishments and extra ordering by downstream clients. But amid the still existing macroeconomic woes, it should be noted a cautious market outlook persists.

Beginning from Apr09, the demand visibility in 2Q09 has at least become clearer among the three main applications. China’s Labor Day holidays and the launch of new models in major markets helped drive up the TV and NB panel demand. As for monitor panels, it continued to follow the stable demand seen during Mar09. This allowed the panel prices of the three main applications to rise, as panel makers tried to narrow their losses.

TFT-LCD Panel Area Shipment in Apr-09 (K square meter)In the IT panel segment, the 8.9” and above Netbooks and conventional NB panels increased by 14.9 percent MoM to 12.76 million units. As in Mar09, it was the largest increase among the three main applications, thanks to improving demand, as the excess inventory was cleared away.

Meanwhile, monitor panels were up by 2.4 percent MoM to 15.07 million units. Amid the slowing inventory replenishments, the monitor shipment growth was more moderate. Finally, TV panels rose by 3.6 percent MoM to 10.07 million units, thanks to the robust market demand of China.

In terms of the aggregated area shipments, they edged up by 4.3 percent MoM from 5.907 million square meters in Mar09 to 6.163 square meters in Apr09. Monitor panels were up by 1.7 percent MoM to 1.827 square meters.

Meanwhile, spurred by the strong NB unit shipments, area-wise they were up by 10 percent MoM to 745 K square meters, the biggest growth among the three main applications.

Finally, TV panels climbed 4.6 percent MoM to 3.59 million square meters. On a YoY basis, they were up by 9.3 percent, which was attributed to the sharp 25.9 percent annual TV unit shipment growth, thanks largely to China’s strong demand.