TV panel showed a slight oversupply situation in the first quarter

The oversupply was mainly due to seasonal factors during the first quarter, combined with rapid adjustments in production capacity by panel manufacturers. As a result, the global TV panel supply-demand ratio reached 6.2%, indicating a small surplus in supply over demand.

Qunzhi Consulting noted that actual LCD TV panel production in Q1 2018 dropped by 2% compared to the previous quarter, with total supply reaching approximately 66.27 million units, a 7.7% decline. This reflects a broader trend of reduced output amid shifting market conditions.

In particular, the price declines for 32-inch and 65-inch panels have widened slightly, resulting in a supply-demand imbalance of 55% in the first quarter. Other sizes showed excessive supply, with increased risks associated with 32-inch and 65-inch panels. Prices are expected to fall further in the coming months.

For 32-inch panels, strong demand persisted through the fourth quarter of 2017 due to sales targets set by Chinese brands and delayed export orders. However, demand for 32-inch panels dropped sharply in the first quarter, while supply remained relatively stable, with about 32% of production capacity still active. This led to an oversupply, with a supply-demand ratio of 6.7%.

Previously, the stable pricing of 32-inch panels had narrowed the price gap with 40-inch models, increasing potential risks. Now, Qunzhi expects the price decline to widen further in the first quarter.

In the 40–43 inch segment, weakened demand for stockpiling and changes in demand structure led to lower production expectations. Panel makers adjusted their capacities to manage supply, especially for 43-inch panels. The overall supply-demand ratio was around 6%, with prices showing a slight downward trend.

For the 48–50 inch range, long-term price declines in 49- and 50-inch panels have shifted demand toward 50-inch models. As a result, 49-inch panels faced greater pressure in the first quarter, while 50-inch panels still carried high inventory. However, through proactive pricing strategies and capacity adjustments, panel factories managed to reduce inventory levels, easing pressure over time.

Despite the continued oversupply in the first quarter, prices kept falling, and the price difference between 49-inch and 50-inch panels is expected to narrow gradually.

On the 55-inch side, stocking demand remained strong, keeping the supply and demand balance relatively stable, with prices remaining steady throughout the quarter.

In the large-size segment, although TV manufacturers have high expectations for 65-inch panels, market performance has not met expectations. Demand for stockpiling is slowly growing, and panel makers continue to increase the proportion of 65-inch capacity. Notably, BOE’s 10.5-generation line is nearing mass production, which is expected to boost supply and create more room for growth in the 65-inch market.

Qunzhi Consulting estimates that the supply-demand ratio for 65-inch panels in the first quarter will be around 6.8%, with supply continuing to exceed demand and prices maintaining a significant downward trend.

In a separate development, American researchers have used "white graphene" interlayers to significantly enhance the ductility and strength of ceramic materials. Ceramics are typically brittle under high pressure or strain, but a recent study from Rice University has overcome this limitation, improving both ductility and toughness.

According to Phys.org, the research was published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The study's lead author, Rouzbeh Shahsavari, a civil and environmental engineering assistant professor at Rice University, explained that inserting ultra-thin hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) between layers of calcium silicate creates a unique two-layer crystal with exceptional mechanical properties.

Shahsavari's calculations suggest that this composite material could be used in nuclear applications, such as shielding in power plants, as well as in construction, oil and gas, and aerospace industries where high-performance composites are needed.

Known as "white graphene," hBN is similar in appearance to graphene but composed of alternating boron and nitrogen atoms rather than carbon. Unlike traditional reinforcement fillers, hBN integrates into the overall system, offering enhanced structural stability.

The team tested a ceramic form called tobermorite and compared it with a model incorporating hBN. The results showed that the composite was three times stronger and 25% tougher than the original tobermorite. When compressed, the composite exhibited a yield strength of 25 GPa and a yield strain of 20%, compared to 10 GPa and 7% for the original material.

Shahsavari emphasized that two-dimensional materials like hBN offer a larger surface area per unit mass compared to one-dimensional fillers like carbon nanotubes, making them more effective for adhesion and reinforcement. He also suggested that other two-dimensional materials, such as molybdenum disulfide and layered double hydroxides, could be applied in similar ways for future ceramic and composite designs.

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