Core Viewpoint - In 2025, Chinese panel companies have transitioned from mere scale expansion to a phase where technology defines their business models, particularly in the OLED sector, while maintaining a controlled production strategy in the mature LCD market [1][19]. LCD Market Dynamics - The LCD market has shifted from a "full production, full sales" model to an "on-demand production" strategy, where manufacturers adjust production based on actual orders to stabilize prices [6][7]. - Major panel manufacturers have agreed to control production to maintain profitability, leading to a reduction in the operating rate of LCD production lines to below 80% in October 2025 [2][3]. - The market concentration has increased, giving leading companies stronger bargaining power, which has allowed them to implement production control strategies effectively [7][8]. Financial Performance - The financial results reflect the success of the new production strategy, with companies like BOE and TCL reporting significant profit increases in their third-quarter results, with net profits growing by 39.03% and 53.5% respectively [8][9]. OLED Market Strategies - In the OLED sector, leading companies are pursuing different technological paths, with BOE investing 630 billion RMB in a mainstream "evaporation" process, while TCL is adopting a lower-cost "printing" method with an investment of only 295 billion RMB [11][12]. - Visionox is exploring a unique approach using its proprietary ViP technology, which aims to replace traditional masking techniques with semiconductor-like processes [14][15]. - The competition in the OLED market is intensifying as companies aim to capture the growing demand for OLED panels in IT devices, with projections indicating a compound annual growth rate of 33% for OLED in laptops by 2030 [17]. Future Outlook - The race for the 8.6-generation OLED production lines is critical as the smartphone market matures, with companies like BOE and TCL setting ambitious timelines for mass production by 2026 and 2027 respectively [17][18]. - Despite not investing in new OLED lines, Tianma Microelectronics is focusing on enhancing its existing LCD capabilities, particularly in the automotive display sector, which is expected to grow significantly [19].

Core Insights - The display panel industry, often perceived as a mature and stagnant sector, is undergoing significant structural changes driven by supply-side adjustments and technological differentiation [2][3][4] Group 1: LCD Market Dynamics - LCD panel manufacturers are adopting a "just-in-time production" strategy to maintain profitability, moving away from the traditional "full production" model [5][6] - In December, TV panel prices are expected to stabilize due to proactive inventory management by manufacturers in anticipation of demand for the first quarter of 2026 [5][6] - The production capacity utilization rate for LCD lines fell below 80% in October as manufacturers intentionally reduced output to cope with demand fluctuations [3][6] Group 2: OLED Market Strategies - Major players in the OLED sector, including BOE, TCL Technology, and Visionox, are investing over 140 billion RMB in their respective 8.6-generation OLED production lines, each choosing different technological paths [3][4][9] - BOE is focusing on the mainstream "evaporation" process and complex tandem structures to enhance performance, while TCL is pursuing a cost-effective "printing" method [9][11] - Visionox is developing its proprietary "VIP" technology, which utilizes semiconductor photolithography to eliminate the need for traditional masking techniques [11][12] Group 3: Financial Performance and Market Position - The shift to controlled production has led to improved financial results for major manufacturers, with BOE reporting a net profit of 4.601 billion RMB for the first three quarters, a 39.03% increase year-on-year [7] - TCL Technology's panel business achieved a net profit of 6.1 billion RMB, reflecting a 53.5% year-on-year growth [7] - Despite not investing in new OLED lines, Tianma Microelectronics is focusing on enhancing its existing LCD production capabilities, particularly in the automotive display sector [8][16] Group 4: Future Outlook and Competitive Landscape - The transition from LCD to OLED in the IT panel market is expected to accelerate, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 33% for OLED in laptops by 2030 [14] - As the competition intensifies, companies must navigate the high-end market against established players like Samsung Display while leveraging their unique technological advantages [15][16] - The display industry is moving from a phase of scale expansion to one where technology defines business models, marking a critical evolution in the sector [17]