Global demand for ITO (indium-tin oxide), a key component for TFT LCD and color filter (CF) production, will rise 25-40% to 800-900 tons next year, up from 640 tons this year, as panel makers such as Samsung Electronics, LG.Philips LCD, AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) continue ramping capacity at their next-generation plants, according to Samsung Corning, a supplier of the component.
Panel makers and CF makers from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea will need a total of 600 tons of ITO this year, with demand from each of three region reaching about 200 tons, Samsung Corning said.
Japan-based Nippon Mining & Metals, the largest ITO supplier in the world, said demand from 6G and 7G TFT LCD plants has exceeded the total demand from all TFT LCD plants less advanced than 5G. While capacity at next-generation LCD plants continues to ramp, it is difficult to expand indium capacity and the development of replacement materials has been slow, so tight ITO supply can be expected through 2007, the Japan-based company stated.
