Global TFT LCD panel supply will exceed demand by only 3.8% in 2004, said CE Wang, president of DisplaySearch Taiwan office, at a press conference in Taipei yesterday. Wang estimates the gap at 5.1%, 5.2%, 3.3% and 2.0% for the four quarters of this year, respectively, reflecting the traditional dip in demand during the second quarter, which is the off-peak season for PCs, and rise in the second half.
Last October, the Chinese-language Economic Daily News quoted DisplaySearch president Ross Young as predicting global TFT LCD supply would exceed demand by only 5.5% in 2004. Wang expects global large-size TFT LCD panel demand to reach 130 million units in 2004, adding that panel prices would gradually slide by US$3-5 per month despite tight supply of key components and rising demand.