LCD panel price to drop below costs next month?

With a lackluster demand expected to persist throughout February, prices for monitor panels may fall below the costs of panel makers again, according to industry players.

The average selling prices (ASPs) for 17- and 19-inch panels both dropped US$5 to US$113 and US$133, respectively, in the second half of January, according to WitsView Technology.

In the beginning of January, sources said the production costs of 17-inch panels for most of the makers stayed at around US$110 while Taiwan-based panel makers estimated prices for the segment are likely to drop to US$115-120 later in January.