What They Say
Samsung’s TV business is expected to buy more LCD TV panels from Taiwanese makers and LGD next year, according to a report in The Elec. The firm will try to minimise its dependence on Chinese makers. The article qoutes Omdia data reported in the Taiwan Times for Industry and Commerce which forecast 10 million panels from AUO while shipments from Sharp may rise from ‘hundreds of thousands’ to as many as five million panels in 2022. The report suggests that Samsung’s targe will be 44 million to 45 million sets and will be looking to secure around 53 million TV panels.
Another forecast in the article is that Samsung is planning for 3 million miniLED displays and 2 million OLEDs – a total of 0.5 million based on Samsung’s own QLED technology and 1.5 million based on OLEDs from LGD. LGD is said to be looking for a supply deal that covers OLEDs as well as LCDs.
What We Think
Hmm… this is an interesting artlcle. After quite a lot of noise about Samsung buying OLEDs from LGD a few months ago, the topic seemed to have gone quiet. It will be an interesting marketing challenge to effectively balance demand and perception of OLED, QD-OLED and QLED.
On the LCD supply side, I see it as being tricky for Samsung to mix in IPS LCDs with its VA panels. One way to manage the difference would be to restrict IPS to just a limited geography where there might be less detailed press and channel coverage of sets. The report said that LGD is looking for a deal that covers both OLED and LCD.
The other interesting one is an increase of panels from Sharp. Several years ago, Sharp suddenly stopped supplying Samsung’s TV business when the Korean company was having real challenges in supply. I’d love to be a ‘fly on the wall’ in the negotiations about contract terms! (BR)
