The prices of LCD rallied this month, earlier than expected. Generally, the prices of LCD continue on a downward trajectory during the low season from the fourth quarter to the first quarter. But this time around, the prices of LCDs for monitors led the early recovery in prices. In particular, it has been expected that Samsung Electronics and LG Display would benefit the most from the anticipated struggle of Taiwanese LCD makers for undoing the damage from last week's 6.8 magnitude earthquake.
According to a report on price trends of TFT LCDs released by Display Search, a market research firm, the prices of LCDs for monitor reversed their course of decline seen since September and edged up by one or two dollars.
The firm said, "Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) of PC monitors set out to secure their LCD inventories, pushing up the prices of LCDs." In particular, the rebound in LCD prices came as major markets such as China and the EU maintained their solid demand for LCD TVs and panel manufacturers boosted the production of TV LCDs, making it tricky to predict the supply and demand of LCDs for IT products. The prices of modules for TVs have remained unchanged from last month, fueling expectation that they would also join the price rally soon.
