Taiwan makers' share of global notebook panel shipments is expected to rise further in second-half 2020 after hitting a high of 43% in the second quarter of the year, according to Digitimes Research.
Taiwan's panel makers have been making headway in the notebook segment, leveraging their advantages in the manufacture of mini LED-backlit notebook panels and other models for gaming and Chromebook applications.
Overall, shipments of large-size LCD panels (9-inch and above) by Taiwan-based makers (excluding Sharp) totaled 64.38 million units in second-quarter 2020, up 35% sequentially and 10.8% on year, driven by growing demand for IT devices supporting remote work, study and entertainment, Digitimes Research figures show.
With stay-at-home activities becoming a new normal in the wake of the pandemic, panel demand for Chromebook devices alone will more than double on year in the second half of 2020, with Taiwanese makers being the primary suppliers.
Taiwan's makers also have advantages in the manufacture of monitor panels, particularly those for gaming and curved monitor applications, with AU Optronics (AUO) alone seeing its shipments of curved monitor panels spike over 40% on year in the second quarter.
AUO, which ranks second for curved monitor panel shipments globally, will benefit from the top vendor Samsung Electronics' decision to withdraw from the LCD panel market.
Notebook applications as a proportion of Taiwan's large-size panel shipments will increase to 38.1% in second-half 2020 from 36.6% a year earlier; monitor panels will remain at over 20%; and TV panels will drop by 2pp.