At current prices, even first-tier companies barely break even for monitor and notebook panels. |
Matsushita and LG Electronics are quite aggressive in capacity-ramp up. Samsung SDI will need to bring forward the schedule for the new line. |
Samsung SDI's margins are under pressure despite growing shipments because plasma panel prices are falling sharply. |
The fourth quarter was quite good but panel prices began to fall again from January and we anticipate more declines going forward. |
TV panel prices should decline only slightly in first half of 2006 thanks to special demand from the 2006 World Cup tournament in Germany in June. |