DSCC: OLED revenues reached over $5 billion in Q3 2017, will reach $10 billion in Q4

Display analyst firm DSCC released a new market report on the OLED market, in which they have some very interesting estimates on the OLED market. OLED revenues reached over $5 billion for the first time in Q3 2017, and DSCC sees a huge 88% jump in the final quarter of 2017 (to $10 billion) as Samsung starts to supply flexible OLEDs to Apple.

OLED shipments (Q1 2016 - Q3 2018, DSCC)

Flexible OLED revenues are the main driver of the growth in OLED smartphone shipments, with revenues rising 37% in Q3 2017 and are expected to grow 140% (Q/Q) in Q4 2017. Flexible OLED unit share out of the entire OLED smartphone market reached 33% in Q3 and will reach 49% in Q4. In terms of revenues, the market share will grow from 66% in Q3 to 80% in Q4.

Flexible vs rigid smartphone OLED shipments (Q1 2016 - Q3 2018, DSCC)

Samsung is obviously the leader in OLED production - and DSCC sees its market share at 91% in Q3 2017 - and SDC's share will actually grow to 93% in Q4 2017 (but will fall to 87% in 2018). Samsung electronics was the leading customer for OLED displays for many years, but Apple will overtake Samsung in Q4 2017 and will have a market share of 57% of all OLED orders (Samsung electronics's share will be 26%). Remember Apple is now using OLEDs in three of its products (the iPhone X, the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro and the Apple Watch).

OLED revenues and growth (2016-2022, DSCC)OLED displays revenues and growth

Looking further ahead, DSCC sees OLED revenues dropping 11% in Q1 2018 and a further 10% in Q2 2018 - mostly due to seasonal weakness and a low demand in China due to high prices. Growth will return in the second half of 2018, and altogether 2018 OLED revenues will be 56% higher than in 2017 and will reach $37.7 billion.

While growth in 2019-2022 will be lower than before, it will continue to be significant. From 2016 to 2022, the market will grow at a CAGR of 32% to reach almost $80 billion.

OLED revenues by application (2016-2022, DSCC)

Posted: Dec 21,2017 by Ron Mertens