Taiwan polarizer suppliers diversifying client bases

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Taiwan's polarizer makers BenQ Materials and Cheng Mei Material Technology (CMMT) both are striving to expand their client bases to sustain shipment momentum, according to company sources.

BenQ said that it has expanded the base of its clients to include 5-6 Chinese panel makers, with polarizer revenues from China already exceeding those generated from parent company AU Optronics (AUO), which now accounts for 40% of its total sales.

Due to keen competition in the polarizer segment, BenQ has committed more investments to technology upgrades and product differentiation, increasing added-value of its polarizer products, according to company chairman ZC Chen.

The company is developing polarizers for large-size TV and monitor applications and for OLED notebooks, Chen said, noting that it has also developed circular polarizers for foldable smartphones, with related shipments to Chinese handset brands likely to kick off in fourth-quarter 2020.

The company posted revenues of NT$1.278 billion (US$43.63 million) for August, up 2.2% sequentially and 9.87% on year. For January-August, revenues totaled NT$9.692 billion, up 2.4% on year.

CMMT said that the ratio of its polarizer shipments to its largest shareholder Innolux will be lowered to 45% in fourth-quarter 2020, down from 50% projected for the third quarter. And for the second half of 2020, Japan's polarizer revenues will account for 35% of total sales, up from 25% previously, and revenues from China will increase to 20% from 5%.

The company revealed its shipments for small- to medium-size applications have been gaining momentum and is also enhancing its deployments in the automotive and OLED handset sectors.

It posted revenues of NT$828 million for August, up 13.22% on month but down 25.02% on year.

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