Panasonic will outsource the production of LCD TV panels to Chimei Innoulux (CMI) in 2012, the first time for the vendor to purchase flat panels from a Taiwan-based maker, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.

Panasonic is expected to purchase up to 4.5 million TV panels, worth NT$27 billion (US$900 million), from CMI this year, said the paper.

Panasonic aims to ship 12-15 million LCD TVs in 2012, with 40% of needed panels produced in house, 30% from LG Display and the remaining 30% from CMI, the paper quoted DisplaySearch as indicating.

In addition to Panasonic, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba also plan to increase their purchases of TV panels from Taiwan makers this year, the paper added.

Sharp will outsource all TV panels below 40-inch to CMI and have Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) handle the TV set assembly, the paper quoted David Hsieh, vice president of the Greater China Market at DisplaySearch, as saying.