China-based panel maker BOE is expected to see 4.7% on-year growth for its small- to medium-size panel shipments in 2013, which is also expect to boost revenues for each of its fabs, according to Digitimes Research.
BOE has focused more on producing products for use in smartphone and tablet applications in 2013, making it the largest producer of small- to medium-size panels in China. BOE also has close relations with Samsung Electronics and major handset vendors in China such as Lenovo, which is expected to bring the company overall increased handset panel shipments in 2013 as well.
In terms of 9-inch and below panel products used in tablet applications, BOE expects to see its shipments increase 174.7% on year due to increased orders from major vendors such as Samsung as well as to increased orders from white-box vendors, added Digitimes Research.
BOE also has plans to increase the proportion of production for small- to medium-size panels at its 6G and 8.5G lines as it continues to benefit from shipments of the products, noted Digitimes Research.
Digitimes Research also said Tianma Micro-electronics expects to see 3.8% on-year growth in handset panel shipments during 2013 largely due to shifting away from feature phone panel production in 2012 to mostly smartphone panel production in 2013.
However, Tianma is likely to see a decrease in panel shipments for tablet applications due to competition from BOE as well as to lack of capacity expansion, which is not expected to occur until 2014 on a 5.5G fab run by the company, said Digitimes Research.
This article is an excerpt from a Digitimes Research Special Report (China's flat panel display industry outlook, 2013-2016). Visit our latest Special reports.