TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Shares of AUO Corporation opened at NT$17.25 on Tuesday (Dec. 26) and rose to NT$17.75 at 9:34 a.m. Taipei time.
This gain ran parallel to a dip in TV panel prices toward late December. With TV manufacturers ceasing production to prepare for year-end demand, Dec. 22 saw a US$1 drop (0.8%) in the price of 55-inch 4K open-cell panels. This dip amounted to a 1.6% price reduction for December and a 3.1% revision since early November.
However, analysts predict tier-one TV panel makers may hike their price quotes by US$1 to US$3 in January 2024. Considering market demand, it's expected that final transaction prices will likely remain unchanged.
The same report cautioned of a "final decline" in quotes for larger panel sizes for major customers, with a drop between US$1 to US$3 expected for those ranging from 55 to 85 inches. Conversely, prices for all TV panel sizes are anticipated to stabilize and rebound in February.
Panel market forecasts have reported favorable conditions for 2024, thanks to stabilizing panel industry trends and the launch of AI phones and AI PCs, triggering a wave of device upgrades. These factors are predicted to drive performance in 2024, eclipsing that of 2023.
AUO Chairman Paul Peng confirmed that the first quarter of 2024 typically witnesses seasonal lulls, but also projected mild growth across the year, expecting the market to grow between 3% to 5%. He also forecasted a higher production capacity utilization rate in 2024 compared to 2023.
Peng observed steady demand for automotive and industrial products, noting this would drive a stable production utilization rate. He also highlighted an upward development trend for LED and LCD panels under the increased use of Human Machine Interface (HMI) technologies.