Taiwan-based Innolux, among fellow makers AU Optronics, Samsung Display, LG Display and Sharp, recorded the highest net profit margin for the second quarter of 2014 mainly due to large increases in shipments of Ultra HD TV panels and notebook panels, according to Digitimes Research.
As Samsung Display has a large portion of revenues coming from panels used in Samsung smartphones and tablets and LG Display has so from panels used in iPhone and iPad, both panel makers saw decreasing profitability mainly because sales of these devices in the second quarter were short of expectations, Digitimes Research indicated.
Sharp is one of the three suppliers of panels used in iPhone and therefore its profitability highly hinges on orders for iPhone panels.
The Japan government-sponsored Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, Japan Display, Sony and Panasonic in late July decided to establish a joint venture, JOLED, specifically for R&D of OLED panels for use in tablets and notebooks.