Taipei, May 8, 2007 (CENS)--The prices of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels of all the sizes are expected to rise in May, according to industry sources. .

Among all global counterparts, only Samsung of South Korea registered profitable operations in the first quarter, and some second-tier players have suffered operating losses for several quarters.

According to some panel suppliers, the panel prices are expected to rebound in May due to an improvement in oversupply. Some second-class suppliers have decided to hike the prices of their 17-inch monitor panels by US$10 to US$12 each, and some others US$8 to US$10. The average price hike for 19-inch monitor would be about US$8 to US$10, the sources said, leading to an average price hike of US$10 for monitor panels in May.

David Hsieh, president of DisplaySearch Taiwan Office and vice president of DisplaySearch Greater China, pointed out that the notebook PC panel is expected to have a US$5 to US$10 price hike in May, and the quotes for new notebook PC-panel orders are expected to surge by US$10.

In the past, Hsieh explained, all panel suppliers were required by LCD TV manufacturers to cut prices in line with TV makers` price-cutting competition. Thanks to tight supply capacity, he added, the prices of under-32-inch (including) TV panels have stopped sliding while those of 32-, 26-, and 27-inch TV panels would go up by US$5 to US$10 each.

Hsiung Huei, executive vice president of AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), the largest maker of large-sized TFT-LCD panels in Taiwan, said that the recent panel price hikes are expected to reflect a price level at least higher than makers` production costs, and then the price hikes would be minor.

(by Quincy Liang)