Innolux's 4K2K TV Panel Shipments to Grow Over 800% in First Half of 2014: Digitimes

The year 2014 will be a boom for global shipments of 4K2K, or UHD (Ultra High Definition), TVs, which are forecast to grow by a factor of six to more than 12 million units, from less than two million in 2013, according to Digitimes Research.

Taiwan-based thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel supplier Innolux Display Corp. is expected to maintain its global lead as the largest supplier of 4K2K TV panels in 2014 with global share of 34.8%, the company said.

Digitimes Research pointed out that global shipments of 4K2K TV panels will rise rapidly in 2014, reaching more than 17.8 million panels, up 473% from the previous year. In the first half of 2014, Innolux alone is expected to enjoy a 830% year-on-year (YoY) shipment growth in its 4K2K TV panels, to more than 2.2 million units.

The annual growth rate of global LCD TV shipments is estimated at only about 5% in 2014; while due to the higher panel inventory level in the fourth quarter of 2013, this year's overall global LCD TV-panel shipments are expected to increase by less than 2%, Digitimes Research said. As a result, the higher-margin 4K2K TV panel products have become a new target for panel suppliers to upgrade profitability, as well as a means of market differentiation.

In conjunction with their aggressive business deployments in the 4K2K TV panel products, Taiwanese panel suppliers Innolux and AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) are expected to together win global share of over 50% this year, Digitimes Research said.