AUO begins 32-inch LCD TV panel shipment to Sony

AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) this month began volume shipments of 32-inch TV panels to Japan's Sony and expects much higher revenues and profits in the second half, according to industry sources.

AUO has landed panel orders from the top-five LCD TV brands worldwide. Sony has become the world's No. 1 LCD TV maker in terms of sales value and aims to ship 6 million units this year, with further increase of such volume likely. Industry sources pointed out that AUO currently delivers two models of 32-inch TV panels to Sony, including a lower-level one also shipped to Samsung Electronics (with 16 cold-cathode-fluorescent-lamp, or CCFL, for backlight), and a higher-level one, more energy-efficient, which uses 12 CCFLs, and features prism films. In September and October, AUO's monthly shipment to Sony is expected to reach 100,000 to 150,000 panels.

The top-six LCD TV brands (Sony, Samsung, Sharp, Philips, LG and Panasonic) together dominate about 64% of the global market, which means less room for survival for second-tier brands, or on the other hand lucrative business for panel suppliers if they can secure orders from the top players.