LED will finally enter the common lighting market in the next few years

LED TV is taking the world by storm and TV brand vendors are rolling out series of new models in the second half of the year, which fueled the decline of LED TV prices. Market outlook is fairly upbeat – total LED TV shipment for 2009 is estimated at 3.1 million units, and this figure is forecast to grow ten-fold to 30 million units in 2010.Samsung LED TV sales continue to skyrocket since its initial launch early 2009 – up to July 2009, its global sales hit a record 700 thousand units. LG followed suit and unveiled its LED TV in June, with sales forecast of 400 thousand units in the second half of this year, LG is poised to see exponential growth of 5 million units in 2010. LG is very optimistic about the LED TV market, and estimates that global LED TV market will reach 3.1 million units in 2009. According to industry research institute WitsView, the average price of 55-inch LED TV slid to $3,500, while the 47-inch models tumbled to $1,838. Despite a notable price gap between LED TVs and conventional LCD TVs, LED TV prices have fallen to an acceptable range, and the market is well-poised to witness explosive growth in 2009 and 2010.

As one of the first cities taking part in the LED lighting plan of 10,000 lights each in ten cities initiated by China Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai is gradually expanding LED energy-saving lights and signal lights. It is estimated that in Shanghai, LEDs will finally replace traditional lights in the next 3 to 5 years.There are huge potentials in Chinese LED lighting market. The potential market scale of common lightings exceeds 1 billion USD. Common lights are those lights used in offices, stores, hotels and families. Now LED lightings haven’t taken up many shares in this area. With the improvement of LED technologies and the reduction of costs, it is estimated that LED will finally enter the common lighting market in the next few years.

The common lighting area will become the largest market for LED and it is also the object for relevant dealers to fight for. To replace the current light tubes or light bulbs of common lightings, there are difficulties in costs and technologies for LED. The lighting efficiencies and brightness remain to be enhanced and costs are expected to reduce. Therefore, the LED penetration in the current lighting market is still low. The improvement of LED packaging technologies and material processing technologies will give breakthroughs to lighting efficiencies. Besides, the IC control can control the time and the brightness of LED illumination, which has enriched the original single lighting products and made them better than traditional lightings.