Touch panel makers are seeing increased shipments due to orders from China-based tablet and smartphone vendors, according to industry sources.

　　Vendors such as Xiaomi, Huawei Device and Lenovo have been placing increased orders to touch panel makers in both Taiwan and China, with China-based O-Film, in particular, seeing some of the biggest increases.

　　However, market observers noted that orders for touch panels used in smartphones and tablets are continuing to be shifted away from Taiwan makers such as TPK and Young Fast Optoelectronics to China makers due to their cheaper solutions.

　　Most of the touch panel orders are for thin-film touch units for use in tablets and smartphones set to be released in the second quarter of 2014, the sources added.