AU Optronics' (AUO) TV assembly joint venture with Qisda started production in the first quarter of 2009 with shipments of 100,000 units, according to the LCD panel maker. AUO indicated that monthly shipments from the joint venture will reach 100,000 units in the third quarter and total shipments for 2009 are expected to reach one million units.

The Taiwan LCD maker indicated that with panel prices continuing to increase, the prices for some panel segments, especially TV applications, have risen back above cash costs recently. The company estimates that the second-quarter TV panel ASP will increase 5-7% compared to the ASP in the first quarter.

AUO's TV panel revenue share reached 48% in the first quarter, with the 40-inch-and-larger segment accounting for 20% of total TV panel shipments, and 30-inch-and-larger TV panels accounting for 70%, said AUO. AUO estimates that its TV panel shipments will increase by 50% in the second quarter sequentially

AUO estimates that the proportion of TV panel shipments to China will increase to 15-20% in 2009 from 5-6% in 2008.