LG Display Optimistic Ahead Of Next Week's Q2 Earnings

The news bodes well for the world's second largest LCD manufacturer, following two consecutive quarterly losses.

LG Display, based in Seoul, Korea, said that notebook panel sales reached 4.06 million units last month as its newly added production line helped meet increasing demand, according to Reuters. When the company included panels that are used in smaller "netbook" PC models, the monthly number increased to 4.5 million units.

In a report released Thursday, research firm DisplaySearch forecast that flat-panel shipments are expected to grow only 1 percent each year from 2008 to 2016. However, all is not lost.

"Despite the overall flat outlook for FPDs, there are some bright spots in the long term for flat-panel displays," said David Barnes, vice president of strategic analysis at DisplaySearch. "Hot applications such as OLED TV, eBook, mini-note PC (netbooks), digital picture frames and public displays are all driving demand. We expect electrophoretic and OLED technologies will experience more growth than other display technologies will over the long term."

In another sign of optimism, last week LG Display said it is considering adding more factories that produce eighth-generation screens.

LG Display has agreements with several leading consumer electronics producers, such as LG Electronics (its parent company), Philips Electronics, Toshiba and Vizio, as well as leading manufacturers of computer products, such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Apple.

In January, LG signed a five-year, $500 million agreement to supply Apple with LCD panels.