According to media reports, LG is strengthening its ties with core customer Apple, as LG Display is on track to expand its production facilities for small and medium-sized organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for Apple's smart devices.

LG Display recently filed a regulatory filing. The document mentions that the company plans to invest 3.3 trillion won (US$2.8 Billion) by 2024 to produce small and medium-sized OLED parts at its plant in Paju, Gyeonggi Province while expanding small OLED production capacity to 60,000 units per month from the current 30,000 units.

The smaller display panels produced there will be used for Apple's next-generation iPad and iPhone, sources said, adding that the next-generation iPad to be released next year will also reportedly start using OLED screens.

LG declined to disclose the specific production line to be scaled up. Industry sources said the E6-3 production line could be expanded and dedicated to producing display panels for supply to Apple. In addition, the company may also add a new production line for the production of display panels for the iPad.

LG has been lagging behind Samsung in terms of small OLEDs, with Samsung Display dominating the global market for small OLEDs with an 80 percent market share. With LG planning to invest more in small OLEDs, the competition will gradually heat up.