The 8.6-generation organic light-emitting diode (OLED) production line now in preparation is scheduled to begin operation around the end of the second quarter or the third quarter next year. I also think the government's tax benefits for the development of the display industry should continue consistently.
Lee Cheong, president of Samsung Display, said this to reporters on the 26th ahead of a ceremony marking the 16th Display Day at Lotte Hotel World in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Lee said not only is the company speeding up preparations for mass production of 8.6-generation IT OLEDs, but that the government's tax benefits for the development of the display industry need to be sustained.
Lee said the outlook for the second half of this year is positive. He said, The second half is when key clients release flagship new products, adding, OLED supply is expected to increase, and we expect a positive second-half performance for the display market and for Samsung Display.
At the same time, he said the company has begun preparations to supply OLEDs for foldable phones to clients. Lee said, We cannot disclose specifics regarding clients, and on securing new clients, We are preparing well. Samsung Display is known to be the exclusive supplier of OLEDs for Samsung Electronics' foldable phone series and for Apple's foldable phone to be released next year.
Lee said, 8.6-generation OLEDs are expected to go into full mass production in the third quarter next year, adding, They are expected to be supplied to clients. The 8.6-generation OLED uses a larger glass substrate than the current mainstay 6th-generation process, a next-generation technology that maximizes production efficiency for IT device panels such as laptops and tablets. Samsung Display previously said it plans to invest 4.1 trillion won in an 8th-generation OLED line through 2026, aiming for mass production next year.
In his capacity as the 10th head of the Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA), he said tax benefits and other measures from the government are needed for the development of the display industry. Lee said, I hope the tax benefits now in effect will continue more consistently, and Since, after semiconductors, displays often experience technology leaks through personnel, we ask for strong support so this issue can be resolved.
Regarding the preliminary ruling lawsuit over trade secret infringement against China's BOE, Lee said, There was a ruling that a competitor infringed on our trade secrets and patents, adding, The display industry and customers alike very much want fair competition. In Jul., the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued a preliminary ruling in Samsung Display's trade secret infringement lawsuit against BOE, recognizing BOE's trade secret infringement and deciding that an import ban should be imposed.