Notebook vendors including Lenovo, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Asustek Computer have accepted panel makers' hikes in prices for 15.6-inch panels due to tight supply, according to supply chain makers.

　　The notebook vendors, in view of low stocks of notebook panels, have placed increased orders to replenish inventories, the sources indicated. However, notebook panel makers are unable to significantly increase output in the short term, resulting in tight supply of 15.6-inch panels, the sources said.

　　As the tight supply is expected to persist for a while, quotes for 15.6-inch notebook panel are likely to rise each month in the first quarter of 2014, the sources indicated. In addition, panel makers plan to hike quotes for 14-inch notebook panels and are negotiating with notebook vendors, the sources noted. Prices for 14-inch notebook panels are likely to increase in January, the sources predicted.

　　According to Digitimes Research, November shipments by the five largest notebook vendors grew 14% on month, and those of the three largest ODMs increased 12% mainly because HP shipped three million education-use notebooks to India.

　　Despite panel price hikes, notebook vendors are unlikely to raise retail prices, the sources indicated.