On March 3, 2020, Chongqing Liangjiang New Area held a special online signing event for foreign-invested projects under the theme “Smart Leadership · Opening-Up,” with total contracts amounting to approximately USD 360 million. Among the most notable projects was the BOE B12 Bulk Gas Supply Project, invested and constructed by Air Liquide, a global leader in industrial gases.

Project Background and Investment Scope

The project is designed to serve BOE’s 6th Generation AMOLED flexible display production line in Chongqing. It will include the construction of a nitrogen production unit with a design capacity of 51,000 Nm³/h, along with supporting facilities for oxygen, argon, and other small-molecule industrial gases. These facilities will comprehensively meet the high-purity gas requirements of AMOLED panel manufacturing.

According to Chongqing Daily, this marks a renewed investment from Air Liquide following the establishment of its bulk gas station—Air Liquide (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. BOE Bulk Gas Plant—demonstrating the company’s strong confidence in the Chongqing market and BOE’s development potential.

As BOE’s core gas partner, Air Liquide will supply high-purity electronic gases, advanced materials, gas transmission systems, and full-process service solutions, providing reliable support for flexible display manufacturing.

Opportunities in the Flexible AMOLED Industry

This project closely follows the rapid development of flexible display technology and aligns with China’s national strategy for emerging display technologies. BOE’s Chongqing 6th Generation AMOLED (Flexible) Production Line targets high-end smartphone displays and new-generation mobile terminals, with a total investment of RMB 46.5 billion and a design capacity of 48,000 glass substrates per month.

As early as September 16, 2019, BOE officially commenced construction of this project, with mass production scheduled for 2021. The facility is expected to significantly enhance BOE’s manufacturing capacity and competitiveness in the flexible AMOLED sector.

Industry Landscape and the Rise of Chinese Enterprises

According to data from IHS Markit, the early flexible OLED industry was dominated by Samsung and LG. In 2016, only two flexible OLED production lines existed globally, with Samsung accounting for 80% of global capacity. However, the landscape began to shift rapidly after Apple adopted flexible OLED panels for the iPhone X in 2017, accelerating the widespread application of flexible screens in the smartphone market.

BOE has since launched three flexible OLED production lines in Mianyang, Chongqing, and Fuzhou, with total investments reaching RMB 186 billion. In addition to BOE, other Chinese companies such as Tianma, Visionox, and CSOT are also accelerating their efforts to advance the localization and independence of the flexible display supply chain.

IHS Markit forecasts that by 2020, Samsung’s share of global flexible OLED capacity will fall to 54%, while LGD, BOE, Visionox, and CSOT will account for 15%, 22%, 4%, and 4% of the market, respectively. This trend reflects a significant shift: Chinese display manufacturers are steadily breaking the monopoly in both technology and market, advancing toward the high end of the global value chain.