In the global LCD TV supply chain, CKD is a widely used trade term, especially for TV mainboards—the core component. The CKD model has become a mainstream solution for overseas manufacturing, cost reduction, efficiency improvement and compliance with local trade policies.
What Exactly is CKD?
CKD stands for Completely Knocked Down. For LCD TV mainboards, it means exporting blank circuit boards + all electronic components + technical documents instead of finished mainboards. The importing country completes SMT mounting, soldering, debugging and testing at local factories to produce usable mainboards.
In short: CKD = a full set of mainboard “parts kits” for local production and assembly.
What Does a Standard LCD TV Mainboard CKD Kit Include?
Blank PCB mainboard: No pre-installed electronic parts
Full BOM electronic materials: Main chips, DDR memory, flash memory, resistors, capacitors, HDMI/USB/Ethernet ports, key panels, receivers, cables, heat sinks and more
Production technical documents: Location drawings, schematics, firmware, testing software and production process guidelines
Packaging and accessories: Anti-static packaging, packing lists, labels and other auxiliary materials
No processing procedures are included; all manufacturing steps are completed in the destination country.
Differences Between CKD, SKD and Finished Mainboards
CKD (Completely Knocked Down): Blank board + all components → local SMT, soldering and testing; lowest tariffs, ideal for local factory construction
SKD (Semi-Knocked Down): Main components pre-mounted on mainboard → only small parts insertion and simple testing locally; fast production, suitable for small-to-medium batches
Finished Mainboard: Fully assembled and ready for installation; most convenient but highest tariffs
Why is CKD Widely Used in Foreign Trade?
Substantial tariff reduction: Many countries impose 15%–35% tariffs on finished mainboards, but only 0%–5% on CKD parts
Compliance with local “local manufacturing” policies: Eligible for subsidies, preferential electricity rates and fast customs clearance in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and other regions
Lower shipping costs: Smaller volume and lighter weight than finished mainboards cut logistics expenses
Flexible customization: Local adjustment of system language, picture parameters and signal standards (DVB-T, ATSC, DTMB, etc.) to fit different markets
Convenient after-sales and local maintenance: Unified parts supply enables quick replacements without relying on overseas factories
Post time: Mar-26-2026
