Recently, LG Display CEO reported that 8.5 G TFT-LCD panel production plants were more competitive than 7.5G and LG Display would become the largest panel supplier in China.
He said LG Display would discuss the decision to set up an advanced plant in China and he thought making an early start did not guarantee advantage.
The 8.5G was supported by better equipment and was more cost competitive. Its substrate size was suitable for 55-, 47- and 32-inch cuts, while 7.5G had economic cuts of 42- and 47-inch. And LG Display planed to become the top panel supply in China in 2011.
He estimated, in 2Q11, the panel short supply would start emerging and shortages would be most serious in 3Q11. In the LED-backlit LCD TVs, he expects LED-backlit TV prices to drop significantly in 2011, and he thought the high prices of LED-backlit LCD TVs dampened the growth of the market in 2010. Meanwhile, he was optimistic about the 3D TV market in 2011.
With these demand, he expected LG Display's panels from China were to reach 40 million units in 2011, with 3D models of 20% share.