| The worldwide economic recession
has had a negative impact on many
industries, including high-brightness
LEDs. Although market growth for
2008 was positive (+11%) despite a shaky
fourth quarter, a decline of 3.7% is expected
for this year, resulting in a market size of
$4.9 billion. However, this decline will not
affect all LED market segments equally.
For example, although some of the more
mature markets such as automotive lighting
and mobile phones are experiencing
substantial downturns, other emerging
segments, such as backlights for LCD displays
in notebook computers and TVs, are
showing strong growth. Moreover, the LED
lighting market is also continuing to grow,
although at a somewhat slower pace than in
recent years.
Since Strategies Unlimited began tracking
the LED market in 1995 there has never
been a down year, although the market in
2001 was flat. However, that was during a
worldwide recession in which all other technology-
based markets experienced dramatic
downturns (for example, the silicon
semiconductor market contracted by 32%).
In the current economic environment, it
is not surprising that a number of end-use
sectors that consume LEDs are experiencing
downturns. Worldwide automobile production
is expected to shrink by 20% in 2009,
while mobile phone handset shipments are
expected to decline by 10% in 2009 after
years of steady growth. These two segments
accounted for 15% and 42%, respectively, of
LED consumption in 2008.
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This article was published in the Sept/Oct 2009 issue of LEDs Magazine.
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