LED lighting market to take-off in 3Q11

The LED lighting market is expected to see significant growth as early as the third quarter of 2011 as Taiwan-based LED chipmakers are expected to follow US-based Cree, who lowered prices for high-power LEDs by 10-15% in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The LED lighting market is expected to take-off in 2012 when the growth of the large-size market starts to slow down. LED-backlit TV panels are expected to account for 50% of the total TV panel shipments in 2011 due to promotion by vendors.

Cree introduced 160 lumen per watt (lm/W) LED at the end of 2010 with a price of US$3, which is still high. Osram also introduced a high-power LED of 135 lm/W at the end of 2010, while Nichia, Epistar and Formosa Epitaxy plan to mass produce high-power LEDs of 100-133 lm/W in the first quarter of 2011. Philips aims to lower the cost of LEDs to US$1 per 400 lumen in 2011 and help to take the competition of high-power LED to the next level.

The mass production schedule of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which has entered the LED industry using silicon substrates, is reportedly delayed to the second quarter. TSMC's LED packaging subsidiary VisEra Technologies will focus on the LED indoor lighting market in 2011 and aims to reduce costs by 30% per year.

LED lighting market to take-off in 3Q11