Touch panel pricing to drop to US$1 per inch

As China touch panel makers continue to expand production capacity they are expected to sell panels at US$1 per inch in 2015, down from US$1.13 in the second half of 2014.

The panels are expected to be geared mainly toward the entry-level and mid-range handset segments, which China makers have continued to dominate over recent years.

Price competition has been used to the China makers' advantage, who were responsible for over 30% of global touch panel shipments in the first half of 2014, surpassing Taiwan's share of over 20%.

Due to the rate at which China makers are slashing pricing, market observers believe they will be able to report pricing below US$1 per inch by the second half of 2015.