March 6, 2012 — The market volume for high-brightness light-emitting diodes (HB LEDs) reached $12 billion in 2011, a 4.3% growth over 2010, reports EPIC, The European Photonics Industry Consortium.
While demand for LED backlight unit (BLU) display systems is still growing, consumption of LED chips not keeping up, as fewer LEDs are needed to realize a BLU than in previous generations. The demand for LEDs to produce edge-lit BLU has peaked and will settle at about 70% of its maximum value in 2010-2011. With average cost per LED also dropping, revenues attributed to LEDs for each display screen are declining rapidly, even as production of BLUs based on LEDs rises through 2014.
Also read: Cheaper LED backlights require LED, plate materials changes
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| Figure. The EPIC Bellwether Index of key companies is an important indicator of the commercial development of solid-state lighting. |
In 2011, the bellwether companies showed varying levels of performance. Aixtron was challenged by scale-back of metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) purchases, due to slowing demand in the back lighting market and the end of purchase subsidies by the Chinese government. LED chip manufacturers like EPISTAR and Cree showed mixed results, while lighting systems companies like Philips and Zumtobel fared very well.
This data, as well as more on the response of the lighting and display industries to one of the most difficult economic crises in recent years, is presented in a new report from EPIC, LEDs: The 2011 Market Review. HB-LED and OLED unit production figures as well as revenues are detailed for major players around the world for the 2-year period of 2010 and 2011. The report is distributed exclusively to EPIC members.
EPIC is a leading European photonics industry association. Internet: www.epic-assoc.com.