Sigmaintell has released its IT panel price indicator for early January 2026. The firm predicts that Monitor LCM panel prices will generally remain stable in January, while entry-level FHD IPS Open Cell panels may experience a slight increase. Global monitor panel prices in January are expected to show a pattern of "overall stability with localized increases." From the demand perspective, although January remains within the traditional off-season cycle, demand performance varies significantly among brands due to differences in inventory levels and cost sensitivity. Some brands have seen their monitor panel inventories drop to below-safe levels, creating a certain motivation for restocking, which drives a sequential release of demand. Concurrently, influenced by both the price transmission effect from TV panels and expectations of monitor panel price hikes, cost-sensitive customers are increasing their panel inventory efforts, collectively supporting robust overall demand in January. On the supply side, the contraction of overseas production capacity, coupled with the squeeze on monitor panel capacity from TV and mobile applications, has made the structural tightness in monitor panel (especially IPS panels) supply increasingly prominent. Meanwhile, the supply concentration of mainstream panels continues to increase, further strengthening panel manufacturers' bargaining power. Combined with the long-term low profitability of monitor panels and the cost pressures from rising upstream material prices, panel makers' desire for price increases is growing stronger. For 21.5" FHD panels, the mainstream prices for both Open Cell and LCM are expected to remain flat month-on-month in January. For 23.8" FHD panels, the mainstream price for IPS Open Cell is forecast to increase by $0.2 month-on-month, while the mainstream LCM price is expected to hold steady. For 27" FHD panels, the mainstream price for IPS Open Cell is projected to rise by $0.2 month-on-month, with the mainstream LCM price also remaining unchanged.

In January, the global notebook panel market continues its downward price trend. On the demand side, overall demand for notebook panels remains weak. On one hand, most major brands' notebook panel inventories are at the upper end of the safe range, with inventory control remaining the core focus and little motivation for restocking. On the other hand, shortages and price increases for memory components are driving up the total Bill of Materials cost for notebook PCs, further suppressing the release of end-consumer demand. From the supply perspective, notebook panels have become a key target application for panel manufacturers, leading to a continued宽松 supply situation in the overall market. Considering both supply and demand, within an oversupplied market structure, brands are increasingly seeking to transfer their cost pressures upstream to suppliers. This trend is expected to further intensify the downward pressure on panel prices. Sigmaintell predicts that price competition will intensify further in the mainstream segments of the notebook panel market in January. The projected price performance is as follows: For low-end HD TN panels, the average price of mainstream TN LCM is expected to remain flat in January. For IPS FHD & FHD+ products, the price of mainstream 16:9 and 16:10 specification panels is forecast to see a slight decrease of $0.2. Prices for mid-to-high-end specification panels will continue to show a differentiated trend.