According to IHS, in the fourth quarter of 2014, shipments of touch panels for notebook PCs climbed 6.2% on quarter and 9.4% on year to 5.6 million units. In terms of area, the total shipments increased 7.0% quarter on quarter and 15.6% year on year. However, in value, the total shipments fell 3.7% to $171.72 million from a quarter earlier.
The market for notebook PC-use touch panels has grown on quarter in terms of unit and area, albeit by a small margin, but the market in value has declined for three consecutive quarters since the first quarter of 2014. Such a downward spiral was attributed to the overall sluggish notebook PC market and the lower-than-expected penetration of touch panels in the notebook PC market, which have led the price of touch panels to continue to plunge.
In the fourth quarter of 2014, with shipments of touch notebook PCs with a clamshell form factor falling marginally, their share also declined to 46.9% from 50.8% on quarter. In contrast, shipments of touch notebook PCs with a detachable form factor climbed to 35.9% from 32.3% over the same period.
IHS pointed that it is notable that touch notebook PCs with a detachable form factor, which used to come out only in 10.1 inches, have diversified into different sizes, including 10.8 inches, 11.6 inches, and 12.5 inches, and they in various sizes are received well in the market. If this trend continues, the detachable form factor will see its share increase gradually.
