Market Overview

Based on manufacturer production volume, the global polarizing plate market size was estimated at 632.05 million square meters, 112.0% of the previous year. The market experienced another double-digit growth, driven by polarizing plates for large TV screens with a greater chromatic area effect.   

In 2024, TV display capacity utilization significantly recovered, due to higher production demands in preparation for potential stock shortages. In addition to Chinese TV display manufacturers, such as CSOT and BOE, rapidly increasing their capacity utilization to over 90% from the second half of the Chinese New Year holidays, Taiwanese and Japanese TV display manufacturers also increased their production volume by raising their capacity utilization. This increased the utilization of polarizing plates, maintaining favorable sales in the polarizing plate market. Contrary to concerns about a downturn in demand in the second half of 2024 (July-December), demand for polarizing plates remained stable. Consequently, demand and production volume remained high in the global polarizing plate market.

Noteworthy Topics

How Trump Tariffs and U.S.-China Rivalry Impact Display Production?

The global polarizing plate market is expected to grow in terms of square meters, but it is not expected to achieve a double-digit growth rate after 2026 due to a downturn from the continued high growth level.
A significant expansion of the polarizing plate market is unlikely because of the end of Chinese subsidy programs that encouraged large-scale updating and replacement of consumer goods by the end of 2025. Additionally, the boom in highly transparent OLED TV displays and energy-efficient TVs is declining.

However, Trump’s tariffs could affect the market in the second half of 2025. If the tariffs lead to fiercer competition in the form of retaliatory tariffs, China will likely focus on domestic demand to balance supply and demand and remove external factors, thereby improving the domestic economy. It is possible for Chinese subsidy programs to remain in different forms. This may lead to growth expansion for the polarizing plate market after 2026. 

Future Outlook

The global polarizing plate market size is forecast to reach 663.4 million square meters in 2025, 105.0% of the previous year. Domestic demand in China is expected to stimulate market growth in 2025, driven by a subsidy program for electronic devices, energy-efficient TVs and high-transparent TVs.

From late February to March 2025, just before the Trump tariffs were set to be issued, shipments of TV displays and smartphones were brought forward in an attempt to minimize the impact of tariff fluctuations. However, TV set manufacturers used their inventory to satisfy this surge in demand, which limited the growth of polarizing plate demand during the first quarter of 2025 (January to March).
Active demands in the first half of 2025 (January to June) are mostly for Chinese subsidies. These subsidy plans cover a wide range of products, including energy-efficient TVs and educational technology such as notebook PCs and smartphones. Overseas brands are also included in the subsidy project if their cost is less than 100,000 yen.

China has planned for a large-scale subsidy policy to fuel its economic recovery. This time, the policy is set to last until December 2025. China is expanding its TV display production to almost full capacity in the second quarter of 2025 (April to June), which has rapidly increased the demand for polarizing plates for large, high-end TV displays.
After peaking during the 618 Chinese Shopping Festival, the expanded production of TV displays will likely slow down temporarily, reducing demand for polarizing plates from around July. Nevertheless, demand will remain steady throughout 2025 since production will resume in the third quarter (July to September) in preparation for year-end and New Year's events.

Research Outline