by Shane Henson — November 13, 2013—Amid falling prices and rising consumer acceptance, light-emitting diode (LED) technology is taking over the lighting business, spurring a 96 percent increase in packaged LED revenue in the market from 2013 through 2016, according to a new report from IHS, a global information company specializing in energy, economics, geopolitical risk, sustainability, and supply chain management.
A “packaged LED” is an LED die with a protective covering with contacts that enable it to be directly soldered to an electrical circuit, explains IHS. The report, Packaged LEDs — World — 2013, provides a full in-depth analysis of the packaged LED market, including current packaging trends and general LED industry trends. According to the report, global revenue for packaged LEDs used in lighting applications is set to soar to $7.1 billion in 2016, up from $3.6 billion in 2013.
The figure presents the IHS forecast of revenue for packaged LEDs in lighting.
(Click on image to enlarge)
“As retail prices for LED lamps have fallen, it’s become more obvious that they are an attractive alternative to conventional light bulbs, providing long-term savings in energy and replacement costs,” said Stewart Shinkwin, a market analyst for IHS. “Because of this, shipments of LED lamps for lighting are set to increase dramatically in the coming years, rising to 2.4 billion units in 2016, up from 520 million in 2013. The rapid expansion of the lighting market will come as a major boon to suppliers of packaged LEDs, which are seeking the next growth opportunity following the slowdown of the backlighting business.”
The report notes that in 2012, the lighting sector became the largest end application for the packaged LED market, having finally overtaken the TV backlighting market. Market saturation for LED backlighting has resulted in a number of leading suppliers shifting their focus and development resources toward the lighting industry.
With LED lamp retail prices decreasing and more consumers realizing the cost savings LED lamps can provide over long periods of time, penetration of LEDs into the lighting market is set to increase significantly.
Furthermore, the report notes that along with great opportunity, the projected growth in LED lamps will result in intensified competition among suppliers vying to capture market share. This competition will continue to further drive down prices. IHS forecasts average selling prices for packaged LEDs in lighting to fall to $0.19 in 2018, down from $0.25 in 2016 and $0.41 in 2013.
The price erosion, in turn, will reduce the consumer payback period for LEDs, helping to increase adoption. However, declining profit margins will be undesirable for suppliers.
LED lamp penetration is already significant in a number of lighting applications such as the retail and hospitality sectors. However, it is the residential sector that IHS forecasts will provide the largest opportunity for packaged LEDs.
