Prices of LCD panels extend losses

Prices of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels continued to trend downward this month, industry data showed Wednesday, further clouding the outlook for the South Korean panel makers. All LCD panel products, which are used for desktop and laptop computers, TVs, mobile phones and tablet PCs, will trade at lower prices than two weeks ago, according to DisplaySearch, which compiles international panel prices twice a month. Prices of LCD panels for TVs renewed the historic low in the second half of September, reflecting TV makers' bearish estimate of TV sales in coming months. The price of 40- to 42-inch LCD panels for full high-definition TVs stood at US$212 in the second half of this month, down 1 percent from two weeks earlier. The figure compares with $237 one month ago. LCD panels using light-emitting diode (LED) for backlighting also tumbled to $280, compared with $294 one month ago, according to DisplaySearch's latest data. LCD panels for TVs account for more than half of LCD revenues for Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Display Co., the world's two largest panel makers. The market research firm said that both TV makers and panel suppliers are being squeezed by rising raw material costs and falling demand. Prices of LCD panels for PC monitors, laptop computers and mobile devices also dropped this month. The price of 20-inch LCD panels for PC monitors fell $1 to $61, while prices of all laptop LCD panels fell 2 percent.