32-inch TV panel ASP may not hit US$500 by year-end

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Those of you waiting for a price drop before upgerading to a new LCD monitor will be disappointed to see the forecast is for a small price increse, not a sharp decrease as expected (Looks like Yves is stuck with the monster CRT!!!)

Prices for large-size panels will rise throughout the third quarter of this year, with prices for notebook panels likely to jump the most due to a pickup in demand, AU Optronics (AUO) executive vice president Hsiung Hui stated recently.

Prices for 15- and 17-inch monitor panels should rise US$5-10, though prices for entry-level 19-inch panels should fall US$5, Hui said.

In addition, a serious tight supply for notebook panels will cause the 15-inch notebook panel segment to rise more than US$20, he added.

For LCD TV panels, the 20-inch segment will be the only segment to see a price up this quarter, with prices for 26- and 27-inch panels staying flat and prices for 32-inch panels continuing their slide throughout the second half of this year, Hsiung said.

Although 32-inch panel prices will continue decreasing, the range will not be as significant as the company projected earlier this year, Hsiung said. He added that 32-inch panel prices may not fall to US$500 by year-end, but may end up in the US$550 range due to supply and demand conditions.

To address demand, AUO will adjust its product mix and the company aims to raise its proportion of 15-inch notebook panels, 15- and 19-inch monitor panels and 30-inch and above TV panels, Hsiung said.

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