May 20 2016
China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. (CSOT), a leading TV panel supplier and a subsidiary of TCL Group, will kick off its construction project of the world’s largest Gen 11 LCD panel fabrication plant in Shenzhen, China. The plant, estimated to cost RMB 50 billion (US$7.8 billion), will produce extra-large high-resolution flat panel displays targeting 45", 65" or even larger LCD TV markets. The new production line, when completed, will surpass BOE’s Gen 10.5 which started construction in December 2015 in Anhui Province in terms of generation and investment, marking a new milestone in the display area for CSOT.
CSOT currently owns two Gen 8.5 lines, namely its T1 and T2 lines, which can produce panels as large as 55", while the Gen 11 fab, when completed, will enable it to gain competitiveness and differentiation in large-size display market, because higher-generation production lines are more suitable for the economical cuts of large-size panels.
CSOT decided to build its Gen 11 LCD production line mainly based on two reasons. One is that the domestic competitors are mostly focusing on the Gen 8.5 line mainly producing 32" panels, leaving the market of larger sizes mainly depending on Korean and Taiwan suppliers. Another reason is that as the traditional panels have been pushed into over-supply, and the ensuing price collapse has made the profitability weaker than that of larger-size panels. Therefore, establishing a higher-generation panel line will grant CSOT a substantial competitive edge against its local and overseas rivals.
The shipments of Chinese display panels have continued to increase. Even though the growth rate of the traditional display industry is slowing down, there is a huge demand for large-size high-resolution panels. In recent years, the global market has seen the mainstream TV size shifting from 32" to 40"/43" or bigger, while in China the demand for larger-size TVs is especially strong. The market demand for large-size TVs is estimated to grow at an annual rate of more than 20% in the years to come.
Although displays larger than 55" account for merely 10% in today’s TV market, the prospect of extra-large LCD panels is still promising. CSOT’s ambition to build Gen 11 LCD fab is a strategy to win more stake and voice in the emerging market segment where large-size high-resolution TVs will be the mainstream.
About TCL Multimedia
Headquartered in China, TCL Multimedia Technology Holdings Limited (HKSE:01070) is one of the leading players in the global TV industry, engaged in the research and development, manufacturing and distribution of consumer electronic products. Through a new product-and-user-oriented business model that focuses primarily on a “double +” strategy which includes “intelligence + Internet” and “products + services” as the main direction, striving to become a “global entertainment technology enterprise” that provides integrated entertainment solutions to customers.
About CSOT
Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. is a China-based display maker established on 16 November, 2009, owned by TCL, Century Science & Technology Investment and Samsung Display. The company now has three production lines, namely T1, T2 and T3, producing small and large LCD panels for TVs, smartphones and tablets. For more information, please visit http://www.szcsot.com/.
Source: http://tcl.com/