TCL CSOT’s Prima acquisition is part of a wider trend
Chinese appliance firm TCL Technology recently announced that its subsidiary TCL CSOT has successfully acquired an 80 percent equity stake — along with creditor rights — in Prima (Fujian Prima Optoelectronics) which specialises in LED epitaxial wafers and chips used in lighting, backlighting, and miniLED/microLED video wall applications.
This transaction marks TCL CSOT’s formal entry into the LED chip segment. It represents a critical step toward completing a vertically integrated supply chain spanning from LED chips to miniLED video wall applications, according to TrendForce .
TrendForce says the acquisition underscores the increasing trend of brand owners and panel manufacturers venturing into the upstream LED chip market. Since 2018, companies like Samsung, AUO, Hisense, BOE, Innolux, and HKC have been progressively expanding their involvement in this sector.
Samsung launched microLED TV products following its investment in PlayNitride; AUO, after investing in Ennostar and PlayNitride, has entered mass production of microLED smartwatches and automotive communication displays; and Hisense introduced TVs featuring RGB miniLED backlight after acquiring a stake in Changelight.
Meanwhile, BOE introduced glass-based miniLED video walls after acquiring a controlling stake in HC Semitek, while HKC achieved mass production of miniLED video walls in 2023.
TCL CSOT’s Suzhou Mini LED video wall production line commenced operations in 2025 and currently has a monthly capacity of 6,000 m2. With the added support of Prima’s LED chip capabilities, TCL CSOT is expected to strengthen its product competitiveness and further emerge as a leading player among brand and panel makers.
TrendForce estimates that the global merchant market value for LED chips (external sales) will reach $2.841 billion in 2025. Prima, ranked ninth by revenue, derives most of its LED chip sales from lighting, backlight, and miniLED video wall applications.
TrendForce analysis indicates that as brand owners and panel makers advance critical integration in the LED chip industry, coordination costs between chip supply and end-product development are being significantly reduced.
A strategy of leveraging economies of scale and closer technological cooperation is likely to speed up the adoption of miniLED/microLED technologies in both display and non-display sectors, helping to sustain growth in the overall LED chip market.
