UBI: the COVID pandemic decreased demand for OLED smartphone displays, while demand for wearable displays have risen sharply

UBI Research estimates that OLED shipments in the first half of 2020 were 231 million units ($13.2 billion), pretty much the same as in the first half of 2019 (230 million, $13.8 billion). UBI estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic decreased demand for OLED displays.

OLED shipments and revenues (1H19 to 1H20, UBI)

Looking at market segmentation, OLED shipments for smartphones decreased from 200.4 million units to 189.8 million units. Foldable phones increased from 70,000 units to 1.7 million units, and smartwatch display shipments increased sharply from 22 million units in the first half of 2019 to 33.5 million in the first half of 2020.

Looking into the future, UBI estimates a slowdown in capacity increases in the OLED market from 2023 onwards. The oversupply situation in the smartphone market will continue and so companies will not invest in new capacity.

OLED production area by company (2020-2025, UBI research)

Posted: Oct 19,2020 by Ron Mertens