China-based panel maker BOE recently signed an investment agreement with the Chongqing Municipal Government to jointly invest CNY$32.8 billion (US$5.26 billion) in constructing a new 8.5G line within the western China municipality. The line is expected to begin construction no later than the third quarter of 2013 and is likely to be completed by the second quarter of 2015.

Upon completion of the line, BOE will be able to produce an estimated 270,000 substrates a month all together between its three 8.5G lines, which will bring its monthly capacity to within approximately 100,000 substrates of that of LG Display and Samsung Display, according to Digitimes Research.

Additionally, BOE and China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) surpassed Taiwan-based AU Optronics (AUO) and Innolux Corporation in production capacity at their 8.5G lines in 2012, and continued to receive large orders from China-based TV vendors, Samsung Electronics and Turkey-based TV vendor Vestel, added Digitimes Research.

Taiwan-based panel makers' production of 32-inch TV panels meanwhile will continue to decline in 2013 while China-based panel makers are expected to bump up their market shares due to expected demand in emerging markets, noted Digitimes Research.