Korea-based vendors to lower TV prices in China

Mar 14, 2013

Korea-based TV vendors are planning to lower prices for their TV units sold in China due to the increasing popularity of cheaper 39-inch models from other TV vendors, according to industry sources.

The 39-inch models, which use panels made by Taiwan-based Innolux Corporation and AU Optronics (AUO), have been posing challenges for 37- and 42-inch models as well as 40-inch models made by Korea-based TV vendors. This is causing the vendors to re-think their pricing strategy, and they may slash their TV prices even more in China throughout 2013.

Panel pricing has been a major factor for the vendors' TV pricing. Currently a 39-inch open-cell TV panel is priced between US$155-165 while a 40-inch one is priced between US$170-180.

Additionally, market observers are also speculating that Samsung invested in Sharp in order to have more resources for 40-inch TV panels, which should help drive down Samsung's costs for the panels in 2013.

The observers also said they expect 32-, 40- and 42-inch TV units to be the mainstream sizes across the globe in 2013, with 40- and 42-inch units expected to make up a 25% market share.

TVs sized 39- and 40-inch expected to bump heads in 2013
Photo: Michael Lee, Digitimes, March 2013

Source：digitimes.com