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TrendForce reports that the global smartphone production volume for 4Q18 totaled 383 million units, staying at a constant level from the previous quarter. In response to the slacking consumer demand, branded smartphone makers scaled back their production in 4Q18 and paid more attention to inventory management. Looking ahead to 1Q19, they have set modest production targets due to the lower-than-expected sales in the previous quarter. Even though prices of components have been falling, smartphone makers will remain passive in their stock-up efforts since they are under inventory pressure. TrendForce forecasts that the global smartphone production volume for 1Q19 will come to 307 million units, showing a YoY drop of 10%.
Contract prices of server DRAM are expected to fall by more than 20% QoQ in 1Q19, steeper than the previous forecast of 15%, reports DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce. The demand outlook remains weak due to high inventory levels and seasonal headwinds. Moreover, uncertainties brought by the China-U.S. trade war would also lead to conservative demand.
LCD panel makers have continued to bring new production capacities to the market, and the increasing pressure from oversupply has resulted in a sharp decline in panel prices, according to the latest report by WitsView, a division of TrendForce. Therefore, Samsung Display has strategically decided to allocate more capacity to QD-OLED TV production in advance. As the result, the stock-up demand for TV panels may arrive earlier than expected in 2Q19.
The overall price trend in the DRAM market has been stable in December, showing no noticeable change from November, reports DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce. Clients in North America and Europe were taking a break during the year-end holiday season, so the quantities of DRAM products traded in December were too small to be considered in the survey of contract prices. With regard to contract prices of mainstream products, the monthly average of 8GB modules is staying roughly at US$60, while that of 4GB modules is around US$30. However, for both 8GB and 4GB ones, their monthly lows have already dropped below their respective US$60 and US$30 thresholds.
Global smartphone production volume for 2019 is expected to be 1.41 billion units, a decrease of 3.3% compared with 2018, according to the latest report by TrendForce. Brands would record lower production volumes this year because the overall demand outlook in the global smartphone market remains weak. The lack of breakthrough features or specs has made the consumers less active than before with respect to replacing their existing devices. If the demand outlook becomes worse, together with uncertainties and impacts from the U.S.-China trade war, the decline in global smartphone production may reach 5% in 2019. As for the global ranking of smartphone market share, Samsung would remain the market leader, while Huawei is expected to surpass Apple to become the world's second largest smartphone maker. Apple would then take the third place.
