Downturn Seen in Mobile Display Fab Utilization: DSCC

With the holiday sales peak for smartphones now history, factory utilization at mobile display fabs is expected to decrease in Q1 but remain at a higher level than a year ago, reported Display Supply Chain Consultants Monday. Fab utilization in Q4 was up 3% sequentially and 16% higher year over year, while utilization in the current quarter is expected to be down 3% from Q4, but up 15% year over year, said DSCC. Fab utilization “varies substantially” by display technology and substrate, it said: “While there remains a seasonal component, flexible OLED fab utilization has increased substantially in 2021 and into this year.”