Expected 66% Increase in Notebook OLED Shipments This Year

Gartner Korea reported that OLED shipments for notebooks and monitors are projected to rise 66% and 34% year-over-year, respectively, according to market research firm Omdia. Omdia expects large-area OLED shipments to grow 18.8% year-over-year to 38.8 million units, with 'large-area' panels encompassing notebooks, monitors, TVs, 9-inch or larger tablets, and signage. Notebook and monitor OLED markets are led by Samsung Display and LG Display, with BOE and CSOT contributing minimally. While Omdia did not explicitly mention it, Samsung Display is supplying Apple's first OLED MacBook panel for release in the latter half of 2024. Samsung Display recently began using glass panels in its IT 8.6-generational OLED A6 line. Analysts anticipate 2-3 million units of OLED MacBook shipments this year. Omdia noted that despite a challenging overall market, large-area OLED shipments are expected to grow, driven by Korean panel makers increasing production capacity in 8.5-generational OLED facilities. The firm also highlighted that Samsung Display and BOE's IT 8.6-generational OLED lines are focusing on notebook panels. While large-area OLED shipments are projected to grow, the large-area LCD market outlook remains uncertain, with shipments expected to decline 3.0% year-over-year to 878.1 million units. Combined OLED and LCD large-area panel shipments are projected to decrease 2.3% year-over-year to 916.9 million units. Total large-area panel revenue is forecast to drop 1.7% to $69.9 billion. Omdia explained that TV manufacturers face challenges passing on rising costs for memory semiconductors and CPUs to consumers. If TV manufacturers deplete their panel inventory, panel procurement could decrease starting in the third quarter. Annual TV panel shipments are projected to decline 2.5% year-over-year to 249 million units. LCD TV demand is shifting toward larger screens, with 65-inch or smaller LCD TV panel shipments expected to decline 5.9% and 65-inch or larger LCD TV panel shipments to rise 8.4% year-over-year. Memory semiconductor and CPU prices are expected to continue rising throughout the year, with panel shipments decreasing across product categories.