Screen industry plagued by LCD glass shortage

SOURCES IN THE FAR EAST are reporting that there could be a major shortage of the glass needed for monitors and touchscreens.

Digitimes reports that the supply of glass substrates for six generation TFT-LCD panel production is running three to five per cent short of demand while 7.5 generation glass supply is running five to 10 per cent short.

However, display panel maker AU Optronics said that the supply of 8.5G glass substrates is sufficient at the moment, thanks to the fact that the notebook and monitor market is a bit flat.

Digitimes quoted another panel maker, Chimei Innolux Corporation, as being optimistic about the panel market in next year and it does not think any shortage of components will have significant impact.

It seems that most of the suppliers are facing their crisis now and will have everything under control by the next quarter. Howeveri it is not clear yet what this is doing to the LCD industry and who is having problems. µ