Prices for large liquid crystal display (LCD) panels have hit record highs this year, driven by a recovery in the global TELEVISION market.

Omdia, a market research firm, said prices for LCD TV panels (32 inches to 65 inches) hit their highest levels of the year in July, in addition to the 43 inch product. Prices for 32-inch panels rose the most. The 32-inch panel costs $39, up 11% from last month; the unit price of the 43-inch panel is 8% higher than last month; at $77, the price of a 50-inch panel rose 7% to $96; prices for 55-inch panels and 65-inch panels are $118 and $177, respectively, up 7 per cent and 5 per cent from the previous month.

Industry insiders say the resurgent demand for televisions is driving up the price of LCD panels. Governments around the world have taken measures to boost their economies to overcome the recession triggered by the novel Coronavirus epidemic. In addition, retaliatory consumption after the outbreak was under control also began to promote the market rebound. TV makers have launched campaigns and promotions to offset the contraction in demand for TVS in the first half of the year. At the same time, consumers have increased their TV consumption due to the increase in home-working hours.

Market research firm TrendForce forecast in July that TV shipments would reach 214.11 million units in 2020. That was an upward revision from the 205.2 million forecast in March. TrendForce's revision of TV shipments appears to be based on expectations for a recovery in the TV market in the second half of 2020.