The world’s largest mobile phone company Apple has pursued a supply chain diversification strategy, procuring from two or three different suppliers in each component category. The same is true for display panels.
According to market research firm DisplaySearch on July 8, a total of three panel suppliers, including Japan Display, Sharp, and LG Display, are supplying display panels for Apple’s flagship smartphone iPhone.
Japan Display supplied 25.2 million panels for iPhone in the first quarter of this year, grabbing the highest pie of 35.9 percent in iPhone panel shipments. Following Japan Display are Korea’s LG Display with 34.5 percent or 24.2 million panels and Sharp with 29.6 percent or 20.8 million panels.
In the first and second quarters of last year, Sharp commanded the largest share of 38.8 percent and 49.4 percent. Sharp, however, was then overtaken by Japan Display in the third quarter of last year. Since then, Japan Display has maintained its leading position.
LG Display saw its share reach 28.8 percent in the first quarter of last year, 13.2 percent in the second quarter, 30 percent in the third quarter and 32.6 percent in the fourth.
