Core Insights - The report from the Korea Economic Association indicates that half of South Korea's top ten export industries have been surpassed by China in terms of competitiveness, with a prediction that all ten industries may fall behind China in five years [1][2] - A survey of 200 major companies in these industries revealed that 62.5% view China as their biggest competitor, with this figure expected to rise to 68.5% by 2030 [1] - The competitiveness index set by the surveyed companies ranks South Korea at 100, while China and the US are projected to surpass South Korea by 2030, with indices of 112.3 and 112.9 respectively [1] Industry Competitiveness - In specific sectors, Chinese companies lead in steel (112.7), general machinery (108.5), secondary batteries (108.4), displays (106.4), and automotive parts (102.4) [2] - South Korean companies still maintain an edge in semiconductors (99.3), electronics and electrical machinery (99), shipbuilding (96.7), petrochemicals and petroleum products (96.5), and biopharmaceuticals (89.2) [2] - The report highlights that China holds advantages in price competitiveness, production capacity, and government support, while South Korea only leads in brand competitiveness, which is expected to be overtaken in five years [2]

Core Insights - TrendForce projects that global OLED monitor shipments will reach approximately 644,000 units in Q3 2025, representing a 12% quarter-over-quarter increase and a remarkable 65% year-over-year growth [2] - The total annual shipment for OLED monitors in 2025 is expected to hit 2.62 million units, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 84% [2] - ASUS has overtaken Samsung to become the top shipper of OLED monitors, achieving a market share of 21.9% [4][3] Company Summaries ASUS - ASUS has achieved a market share of 21.9%, marking its first time as the leading shipper of OLED monitors in a single quarter [4] - The company offers a comprehensive product line, including the popular ROG gaming monitors and the ProArt professional OLED series, catering to various consumer needs [4] - ASUS is expected to maintain its position as the top OLED monitor shipper for the entire year of 2025 [4] Samsung - Samsung holds the second position in the global OLED monitor market with an 18% market share [5] - The company has maintained stable shipment performance from Q1 to Q3 2025, focusing on existing flagship products and ramping up new model production in the latter half of the year [5] MSI - MSI has climbed from fifth place in 2024 to third place in the first three quarters of 2025 in OLED monitor shipments, indicating effective market strategies [7] - The company offers over 20 mid-to-high-end models, focusing on UHD high-resolution designs to meet the demands of next-generation graphics cards and gaming [7] LG Electronics (LGE) - LG Electronics achieved a market share of 12.9% in Q3, ranking fourth in OLED monitor shipments [8] - The company faced challenges in Q2 due to production relocation but has since improved its ranking by launching new products [8] - LG is expected to benefit from new product releases and strong promotions for 45-inch models, potentially moving up to third place in Q4 [8]

Core Insights - The report from the Korea Economic Association indicates that half of South Korea's top ten export industries have been surpassed by China in terms of competitiveness, with a prediction that all ten industries may lose their competitive edge within five years [1][2]. Industry Competitiveness - A survey of 200 South Korean companies revealed that 62.5% identified China as their biggest competitor, significantly higher than the 22.5% who chose the United States and 9.5% who chose Japan. This perception is expected to increase, with 68.5% anticipating China as the main competitor by 2030 [1][2]. - The competitiveness levels, with South Korean companies using a standard of 100, are perceived as follows: the United States at 107.2, China at 102.2, and Japan at 93.5. By 2030, these levels are projected to be 112.9 for the U.S., 112.3 for China, and 95 for Japan, indicating a significant shift in competitiveness [2][4]. Sector Analysis - In specific sectors, South Korean companies believe that Chinese firms lead in steel (112.7), general machinery (108.5), batteries (108.4), displays (106.4), and automotive parts (102.4). However, South Korea still maintains an edge in semiconductors (99.3), electronics and electrical machinery (99), shipbuilding (96.7), petrochemicals (96.5), and biopharmaceuticals (89.2) [2][4]. - The report highlights that China has advantages in price competitiveness, production capacity, and government support, while the U.S. excels in branding, skilled talent, and core technologies. Currently, South Korea only leads in brand competitiveness, which is expected to be overtaken in five years [4][6].

Core Viewpoint - The global market is expected to face uncertainties in 2026, with inflation impacting consumer market performance and a strong upward cycle in memory prices leading to increased overall costs and potential price hikes for end products, which may further affect consumer demand [2]. Group 1: Smartphone Market - TrendForce has revised down its production shipment forecasts for global smartphones in 2026 from a growth of 0.1% to a decline of 2% due to rising memory costs [2]. - The price increase in DRAM is expected to raise the BOM cost of smartphones by approximately 8-10% in 2025, with overall BOM costs projected to increase by 5-7% in the following year [3]. - Smaller smartphone brands may struggle to secure resources due to tight memory supply, potentially leading to a market reshuffle favoring larger players [4]. Group 2: Laptop Market - The laptop market is anticipated to face dual pressures of cost and demand in 2026, with memory components expected to account for over 20% of the BOM cost due to significant price increases [5]. - If brands pass on costs to consumers, laptop prices may rise by 5-15%, which could dampen demand, particularly in the low-end market where price sensitivity is high [5]. - The mid-range market may see a slowdown in replacement cycles as both corporate and household users extend the lifespan of their devices [5]. Group 3: Monitor Market - The monitor market, which typically uses smaller capacity memory, is less directly impacted by price increases; however, it may suffer indirectly if PC retail prices rise significantly, leading to a forecasted decline in annual shipments from a slight increase of 0.1% to a decrease of 0.4% [6]. Group 4: BOM Cost Analysis - For different market segments, the BOM cost increase from Q1 2025 to Q3 2026 is projected at 12% for high-end and mid-range products, and 10% for low-end products, with DRAM and SSD components making up 23%, 21%, and 20% of the BOM cost respectively [8].

Core Insights - The global market is expected to face uncertainty in 2026, with inflation continuing to disrupt consumer market performance and a strong upward cycle in memory prices leading to increased overall costs and potential price hikes for end products [1] Smartphone Market - TrendForce has revised down its 2026 global smartphone production and shipment forecast from a growth of 0.1% to a decline of 2% due to rising memory costs [1] - DRAM prices are expected to rise significantly, with a projected increase of over 75% year-on-year in Q4 2025, leading to an estimated 8-10% increase in BOM costs for smartphones [2] - The low-end smartphone segment is particularly vulnerable, with brands likely to reduce the proportion of low-end models and increase prices across their product lines to maintain operations [2] Laptop Market - The laptop market is anticipated to face dual pressures of cost and demand in 2026, with memory components expected to account for over 20% of the BOM cost due to continuous price increases [3] - If brands pass on the increased costs, laptop prices may rise by 5-15%, which could negatively impact demand, especially in the low-price segment where consumers may delay upgrades or turn to the second-hand market [3] - The mid-range market may also see a slowdown in upgrade momentum as both businesses and households extend the lifecycle of their devices [3] Monitor Market - Monitors, which typically use smaller capacity memory, are less directly affected by price increases; however, they may still face indirect impacts if overall PC retail prices rise significantly, leading to a forecasted decline in annual shipments from a slight increase of 0.1% to a decrease of 0.4% [4] BOM Cost Increases - The BOM cost increases for different market segments are projected as follows: High-End (12%), Mid-Range (12%), and Low-End (10%) from Q1 2025 to Q3 2026 [5] - The percentage of DRAM and SSD in BOM costs for Q3 2026 is expected to be 23% for High-End, 21% for Mid-Range, and 20% for Low-End [5]

Core Insights - The global market in 2026 is expected to face uncertainty due to persistent inflation affecting consumer behavior, alongside a strong upward cycle in memory prices, leading to increased costs for end products and potential price hikes that could impact the consumer market [2][3]. Smartphone Market - TrendForce has revised down its production shipment forecasts for global smartphones in 2026 from a growth of 0.1% to a decline of 2% due to rising costs driven by DRAM price increases, which surged over 75% year-on-year in Q4 2025, raising the BOM cost by 8-10% [3][4]. - The ongoing tight supply of memory components is expected to lead to a market reshuffle, favoring larger smartphone brands as smaller brands struggle to secure resources [3]. Laptop Market - The laptop market is projected to face dual pressures of rising costs and declining demand in 2026, with memory components (DRAM and NAND Flash) expected to account for over 20% of the BOM cost, up from 10-18% [4][5]. - If brands pass on the increased costs, laptop prices may rise by 5-15%, which could lead to delayed upgrades or a shift to the second-hand market, particularly in the low-end segment [5]. - The mid-range market may also see a slowdown in upgrade momentum as both corporate and household users extend the lifecycle of their devices [5]. BOM Cost Analysis - The BOM cost increase for high-end, mid-range, and low-end laptops is estimated at 12%, 12%, and 10% respectively from Q1 2025 to Q3 2026, with DRAM and SSD components making up 23%, 21%, and 20% of the BOM cost in Q3 2026 [6]. Display Market - The display market, while less directly impacted by memory price increases due to smaller memory capacities, may still face challenges if overall PC retail prices rise significantly, potentially leading to a decline in display shipments from a slight increase of 0.1% to a decrease of 0.4% [5].

Group 1 - The core point of the article highlights the significant price reductions for monitors during this year's Double Eleven shopping festival, making it an ideal time for consumers to purchase [1][30] - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding personal needs before selecting a monitor, as the market has diversified with various technologies such as miniled, OLED, and LED [2][4] - It discusses the differences between various panel types, including IPS, VA, and TN, and their respective advantages and disadvantages [6][7] Group 2 - The article categorizes monitor needs into three types: gaming-focused, a balance of gaming and daily use, and purely for daily use, providing tailored recommendations for each category [7][8] - Specific monitor recommendations are provided, including models from brands like 雷神, LG, HKC, and 海信, with details on their specifications and pricing during the Double Eleven event [10][12][15][22] - The article notes that the current decline in monitor prices is influenced by a sluggish PC market and excess inventory from manufacturers, leading to competitive pricing [30]

Core Insights - The report from Runto Technology indicates that in Q3 2025, the sales volume of gaming monitors in China's online retail market reached 1.72 million units, representing a year-on-year growth of 9.5%, while sales revenue amounted to 1.9 billion yuan, up 2.6% from the previous year [1] - The average price of gaming monitors decreased to 1,085 yuan, a reduction of 73 yuan compared to the same period last year [1] - The growth rate of gaming monitor sales is expected to slow down starting Q3 2024, with the penetration rate stabilizing [1] Market Dynamics - In the first half of 2025, government subsidy policies significantly boosted market consumption, leading to a sales growth rate of 40% for gaming monitors [1] - However, by Q3 2025, the impact of these subsidies diminished due to a reduction in the scope of subsidies and increased eligibility requirements, contributing less than 10% to sales growth [1] Product Performance - The gaming monitor market is transitioning from being driven by policy to relying on endogenous growth, primarily fueled by upgrades in product performance [1] - In Q3 2025, 180Hz monitors held a 23% market share, but this was a decrease of 24 percentage points compared to 2024. Conversely, the penetration rate of 240Hz models rose to 18%, and 300Hz products increased to 6% from nearly 0% last year [1][4] Brand Analysis - The top three brands in the gaming monitor online market accounted for 44% of total sales, an increase of 11 percentage points year-on-year, with AOC leading at nearly 20% market share and a sales growth of nearly 60% [7] - HKC and KTC ranked second and third, respectively, with differentiated product offerings of 240Hz and 260Hz [7] - Xiaomi and ROG also showed significant growth, with Xiaomi achieving a 71% increase in sales due to its dual strategy of focusing on both office and entry-level gaming products [7] - ROG, a high-end gaming brand under ASUS, experienced a 24% growth in Q3, supported by new products featuring 600+Hz refresh rates and a dual-mode design [7] Competitive Landscape - Other brands like KTC, SANC, and Titan Legion experienced growth rates of 20%-60% in the first half of the year but faced varying declines in Q3 due to high base effects from the previous year and limited quotas this year [9]

Core Insights - A recent survey indicates that only 32.4% of South Korean companies believe their technological competitiveness surpasses that of Chinese companies, a significant decline from 89.6% in 2010 [1][2] - Over half of the surveyed South Korean firms feel that their technological capabilities have been matched or surpassed by Chinese firms over the past 15 years [1] - The perception of manufacturing speed has also shifted, with 42.4% of respondents believing that Chinese companies are faster, compared to 35.4% who think South Korean companies are faster [1] Industry Analysis - The survey conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry involved 370 domestic manufacturing companies [1] - 45.4% of the companies believe the technological gap between them and Chinese firms is minimal, while 22.2% acknowledge that Chinese companies are leading [1] - Seven out of ten surveyed companies anticipate that the rapid growth of Chinese industries will lead to a decline in South Korea's global market share and sales over the next three years [1] Price Competitiveness - A strong price competitiveness of Chinese products is highlighted, with 84.6% of South Korean companies stating that domestic products are more expensive than Chinese ones [2] - More than half (53%) of the respondents believe that Chinese products are at least 30% cheaper [2] - Specific industries such as semiconductors, batteries, steel, textiles, and apparel show significant price differences, with Chinese semiconductors priced at approximately 65% of South Korean prices and batteries at 73% [2]

Group 1 - A recent survey indicates that only 32.4% of South Korean companies believe their technological competitiveness is superior to Chinese companies, a significant decline from 89.6% in 2010 [1][2] - The survey conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry involved 370 domestic manufacturing firms, revealing that 45.4% perceive the technological gap as minimal, while 22.2% acknowledge that Chinese companies are ahead [1] - The perception of manufacturing speed has also shifted, with 42.4% of respondents believing that Chinese companies are faster, compared to 35.4% for South Korean firms [1] Group 2 - Price competitiveness of Chinese products remains strong, with 84.6% of surveyed South Korean companies stating that domestic products are more expensive than Chinese ones, and over half (53%) claiming that Chinese products are "at least 30% cheaper" [2] - In specific sectors, such as semiconductors, batteries, steel, textiles, and apparel, Chinese products are significantly cheaper, with semiconductor prices at approximately 65% of South Korean prices and batteries at 73% [2] - The decline in South Korean manufacturing competitiveness is attributed to China's investment policies and flexible regulations, while South Korea relies on tax incentives that disadvantage larger companies [2]