Japan is in talks with Japan Display Inc. (JDI) to include a US display factory in a broader US$550 billion investment package for the US, a move aimed partly at reducing reliance on Chinese display supply chains amid Beijing's tightening grip on the global LCD market.

After the Lunar New Year, LCD TV panel prices have continued to climb, driven by inventory buildup for sports events and rising costs. This momentum pushed February's LCD TV panel prices up by about US$1-2 per unit. Entering March, industry insiders expect sustained strong demand for LCD TV panels, with prices forecast to increase another US$1-3.

As LCD TV panel prices climb, LCD monitor panel prices have also seen a modest rebound. Although brand vendors are placing orders at different rates, overall demand for LCD monitors remained steady in first quarter 2026, with prices expected to continue rising slightly in March. Meanwhile, notebook panels are still declining in price but show signs of stabilization.

Samsung Display (SDC) has reportedly secured the largest share of orders supplying OLED panels for Apple's latest budget smartphone, the iPhone 17e. This development overturns earlier industry forecasts that predicted BOE Technology Group (BOE) would be the primary OLED supplier for the iPhone 17e.

Facing price competition pressure from China, Taiwan's display panel industry is encountering growing operational challenges. However, the surge in AI chip demand for advanced packaging has opened a transformation opportunity based on existing panel technology foundations.

Apple has launched an updated Studio Display and an all-new Studio Display XDR, expanding its external monitor lineup with higher brightness, faster refresh rates, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. The new models target users ranging from everyday Mac customers to professional creators and medical specialists.

The global flat-panel TV market continues to see shifting sales shares, with Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics maintaining overall leadership. However, Chinese brands like TCL and Hisense are rapidly closing the gap, breaking into the top five TV sellers worldwide.

Backlight module supplier Radiant Optoelectronics has invested over NT$10 billion (US$318.16 million) in acquisitions under company chairman Yu-Chao Wang's leadership while advancing three new business lines targeting future growth. Despite a 40% profit decline in 2025, the company remains committed to innovation and expects to ramp up new ventures through 2027 toward significant revenue contributions by 2028.

Daxin Materials achieved strong gains in semiconductor materials in 2025, expanding its product lineup to 12 items. The company plans to introduce three to five new products in 2026, aiming for high double-digit growth in semiconductor material sales. Meanwhile, sales from display materials are expected to remain flat in 2026, while key raw materials could see annual revenue growth surpassing 30%.

Affected by a downturn in its display materials business and the appreciation of the New Taiwan dollar against the US dollar, BenQ Materials fell into losses in 2025. Its medical business, impacted by exchange rate fluctuations, grew only 5%. Chairman Z.C. Chen said that demand across all medical product lines is currently solid, and the company expects to return to double-digit growth in 2026.

China's leading panel maker BOE Technology Group has expressed cautious optimism about the LCD TV panel market in the first half of 2026, announcing accelerated progress on AMOLED and advanced packaging projects, according to Chinese media outlets Sina Finance and Jiwei.com.