OLED Emitting Materials: Korea Leads in Purchases, China Dominates Smartphones

Analysis by Market Research Firm UBI Research
Dominant Market Share for Samsung Display and LG Display
China Expands Shipments Based on Domestic Market

In the first half of this year, Korean panel manufacturers led in total purchases of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) emitting materials, but China was ahead in the smartphone market.

Samsung Display QD-OLED TV. Provided by Samsung Display

According to market research firm UBI Research on September 18, Korean panel manufacturers purchased approximately 36.7 tons of emitting materials in the first half of this year, accounting for 59.9% of the total. In contrast, China recorded 24.6 tons, making up the remaining 40.1%. By company, Samsung Display held about a 40% market share, followed by LG Display, and then China's BOE and Tianma.

However, in the smartphone emitting materials market, China surpassed Korea. Chinese panel manufacturers posted a market share exceeding 50% for two consecutive quarters in the first and second quarters. Leveraging their domestic market, Chinese panel makers have significantly increased shipments and are expanding their influence in the global market.

Noh Changho, a researcher at UBI Research, commented, "Samsung Display and LG Display still lead China in the overall OLED market," but added, "The gap in the emitting materials market between Korea and China is closing rapidly."