AU Optronics touts growth in China

“ THE WHOLE INDUSTRY AFFECTED ”:
Provide constraints may persist, and with its factories working close to full capability, not all orders could possibly be fulfilled, the flat panel maker mentioned.

• By Lisa Wang / reporter

AU Optronics Corp (友達光電) plans to develop capability amid robust demand for high-end show panels utilized in high-end laptops and screens in the course of the post-COVID-19 pandemic interval, mentioned the corporate yesterday.

The corporate plans to extend the capability of its sixth-generation plant in Kunshan, China, to round 36,000 sheets monthly from 27,000 sheets, AU Optronics mentioned, including that the growth could be prepared within the third quarter of the 12 months. subsequent 12 months.

The NT $ 50 billion (US $ 1.76 billion at present change price) manufacturing unit, in-built 2016, was designed to be scalable to 45,000 sheets monthly, the corporate mentioned.

The manufacturing unit manufactures energy-efficient low-temperature polysilicon flat panels for high-end laptops and screens concentrating on on-line players, he added.

“The demand for high-end screens with a curved display screen has elevated not solely due to the demand for video games within the midst of the pandemic, but in addition due to many individuals who will proceed to make money working from home in the course of the post-pandemic interval,” mentioned Frank Ko, president of AU Optronics 柯富仁) advised reporters on the sidelines of a press convention forward of the annual Contact Taiwan present, which is scheduled to happen on the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Middle for 3 days beginning subsequent Wednesday.

The corporate additionally must allocate manufacturing capability for panels utilized in laptops and screens, Ko mentioned.

This might end in a rise in capability, he mentioned, with out giving additional particulars.

AU Optronics’ board of administrators final month accepted a capital expenditure of NT $ 455 million for know-how and capability optimization and changes.

The corporate’s factories are to be totally utilized till the following quarter, Ko mentioned, including that she couldn’t fulfill all orders.

The provision of key parts would deteriorate additional this quarter in comparison with the previous two quarters, Ko mentioned.

Along with a persistent scarcity of built-in circuit provide, provide has tightened for supplies and parts, from show glass substrates to printed circuit boards and polarizers, he mentioned. .

“Provide constraints prevail throughout all provide chains within the flat panel business,” Ko mentioned, including that part and materials provide cycles had been eight weeks versus 4 weeks. earlier than the pandemic.

Part costs are additionally rising, Ko mentioned, including that panel makers have raised costs to mirror larger manufacturing prices.

Glass provider Corning Inc mentioned final month that it could improve glass costs reasonably this quarter as a consequence of elevated spending on logistics, vitality, uncooked supplies and different operational bills as a consequence of a scarcity of glass.

Laptop computer panel costs climbed 2.7% monthly this month, surpassing the two% improve for 55-inch TV screens and 1.2% for 27-inch screens, mentioned market researcher TrendForce Corp (集 邦 科技).