The shortage of glass substrates may continue throughout the fourth quarter of 2009, longer than previous expectations it would end in September, due to the recent earthquake that has halted production at a Corning plant in Japan, according to sources at panel makers.
But it remains to be seen whether LCD panel prices will continue to go up in the fourth quarter because of the glass shortage, the sources remarked. LCD panel makers originally expected panel prices to decline in the fourth quarter after rising for a few months.The glass substrate shortage could lead to further panel price hikes in the fourth quarter, but that would create too much pressure on system makers, the sources explained.
Read full story here.