The market for small/medium FPD panel shipments for digital still cameras (DSC) has entered a V-shaped recovery phase. According to the DisplaySearch Q3’09 Quarterly Small/Medium Shipment and Forecast Report, DSC panel shipments including both TFT LCDs and OLEDs were down 48% Y/Y to 22 million in Q1’09, but picked up to 34 million in Q2’09. Shipments are expected to improve to 41 million in Q3’09, showing a literal V-shaped recovery, as seen in the following figure:

Figure1 DSC FPD Shipments 

Taiwanese suppliers gained share on a unit basis in Q2’09 when the market started picking up, because DSC suppliers are trying to increase shipments by promoting low- and mid-priced DSCs produced by OEM/ODM manufacturers as the first step. Japanese suppliers still have opportunities to catch up by producing higher resolution panels, which require LTPS technology.

The FPD supply chain-not just for DSC panels-is developing a variety of relationships. Our analysis of the present situation and future prospects in the FPD supply chain by application will be explained at “Tutorial T-21: Supply Chain” at the FPD International 2009 Forum, which is 28-30 October at Pacifico Yokohama, Japan.