BOE has made significant progress in its OLED strategy, with the 6th generation flexible AMOLED production line in Chengdu officially launched and beginning mass production in October this year. The line, which was activated on May 11, is expected to reach full capacity soon. Meanwhile, construction has also started on a second 6th generation flexible AMOLED line in Mianyang, with both lines having the same investment of 46.5 billion yuan and a design capacity of 48,000 substrates per month. These developments are expected to solidify BOE’s position as a leader in the flexible AMOLED market, allowing it to supply high-quality displays to global brand manufacturers.
At the end of last month, BOE announced the launch of its first 6th generation flexible OLED panel production line in Chengdu, marking China's entry into the global mass production of such panels. This move broke the long-standing monopoly held by South Korean companies in the flexible OLED market. As a result, BOE's stock price surged, and its market value surpassed 200 billion yuan for the first time.
With the release of the iPhone X, more smartphone, tablet, and TV manufacturers are shifting from traditional LCD screens to OLED technology. According to IHS Market, 36% of smartphones will feature flexible OLED screens this year, rising to 53% by 2020. Another report from Ubiresearch indicates that AMOLED panel sales grew by about 38% in 2016, and are projected to reach 49% growth by 2020, reaching a total value of $71.7 billion.
Zhang Yu, vice president of BOE, revealed that the Chengdu 6th generation OLED line, with a total investment of 46.5 billion yuan, will be fully operational by October 26 and is expected to reach full production next year. The line will produce 48,000 substrates per month (measuring 1850mm x 1500mm). However, due to limited production capacity, the OLED display market remains in short supply, despite major brands like Huawei, OPPO, and Vivo shipping over one million units monthly.
Although many Chinese companies, including Huaxing Optoelectronics, Tianma, Hehui Optoelectronics, Rouyu Technology, and Visionox, have announced plans to build AMOLED production lines, China still faces challenges in the OLED industry. Foreign firms, particularly South Korean companies like Samsung and LG, continue to dominate core technologies and key materials.
The OLED industry can be divided into three segments: upstream (core materials, equipment, glass substrates), midstream (panel manufacturing), and downstream (terminal manufacturers). BOE and similar companies are midstream players, but they still rely heavily on upstream suppliers, mainly Japanese and South Korean firms.
Samsung and LG have been leading the OLED market for years. Samsung began developing OLEDs around 2000 and introduced flexible OLEDs in 2005, giving it a significant advantage. Its small-size OLED market share exceeds 90%, dominating the sector. One challenge with OLEDs is the varying lifespans of red, green, and blue sub-pixels, which can cause color imbalance over time. Samsung addressed this with its PenTIle sub-pixel arrangement, improving screen longevity and power efficiency.
For large OLED screens, LG Display uses WRGB technology, adding white pixels to enhance brightness, contrast, and image accuracy. This method also allows for better color gamut and resolution, while using oxide TFTs instead of traditional LTPS backplanes improves light transmittance and color reproduction. These innovations help reduce costs and increase yield.
Despite these advancements, China's journey in the OLED industry is still long. While BOE and other companies are making progress, the dominance of South Korea and Japan remains strong. Analysts predict that China will grow rapidly in the coming years, potentially becoming the second-largest global supplier of OLED panels by 2020. However, achieving true technological independence and market leadership will require continued investment and innovation.
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