Having suffered a decline in capacity utilization rates in the third quarter of 2010, Taiwan-based first-tier flat panel makers have seen a rebound recently, with Chimei Innolux (CMI) running at over 80% and AU Optronics (AUO) at 85%, according to industry watchers.

The rise in capacity utilization rates at Taiwan-based panel makers comes as recent industry reports indicated that Samsung Electronics has cut its output by 7% lowering its utilization rate to 92-93%.

However, sources at Taiwan-based panel makers stated that Samsung has been maintaining its utilization rate at around 90-95% for a while, with prospects that the company's panel utilization rate will remain unchanged over the next two months.

Additionally, LG Display is also currently running at over 90% of its capacity, the sources added.

Taiwan-based flat panel makers also expect their December revenues to stay flat at, or improve slightly from, the levels recorded in November, buoyed by demand for flat panels from the LCD TV sector in China.