China projected to overtake South Korea in OLED production capacity by 2028

Chinese display manufacturers are rapidly expanding their OLED production capacity, leveraging profits from their dominance in the LCD market to fund growth. According to projections from Omdia, China is expected to overtake South Korea in 8.6 generation OLED production capacity for mobile and IT applications by 2028, potentially capturing 70% of the market compared to South Korea's 30%.

This aggressive expansion could lead to a supply glut starting in 2029, particularly in the laptop and tablet segments. While South Korean firms like Samsung Display and LG Display currently maintain a technological edge in high-end products—such as LTPO panels for Apple iPhones—Chinese competitors like BOE, Visionox, and CSOT are scaling up significantly.

Recent data indicates that BOE's supply share for Apple iPhone OLEDs has been declining due to quality issues, falling to approximately 14% in the first quarter of this year. This decline has allowed Samsung Display and LG Display to maintain strong positions, with Samsung holding 59% and LG 27% of the iPhone OLED market. Experts suggest that South Korean companies must focus on securing high-end customers and maintaining technological superiority to counter China's capacity-driven competition.