As Taiwan becomes embroiled in nuclear energy debates, pro-nuclear and anti-nuclear activists are becoming focused on alternative energy solutions and energy saving benefits. Taiwan could cut 45% of energy consumption by simply overhauling current luminaires with LEDs, resulting in lower power consumption and redistribute energy resources, according to a joint study by TrendForce research divisions LEDinside and EnergyTrend.  Considerable energy can be conserved from the lighting sector’s transformation alone, based on the research organization’s analysis of LED lights energy efficiency benefits, international market experience, and related statistics in Taiwan.

Out of sapphire substrate non-LED applications, mobile devices have shown strongest demands, according to “2014 Global Sapphire Substrate Market Report” by LEDinside, a research division of TrendForce. Sapphire substrate non-LED application is projected to reach 32% this year, with mobile device applications taking a 21% share, said LEDinside.

For the cool white NPW LEDs, the spectrum is similar to the conventional white LEDs obtained from the blue LEDs combined with yellow phosphors. The blue emission originates from the upper sidewalls of nanopyramids, and yellow light is mainly emitted from the lower ridges with respect to the base of nanopyramids. 

Affected by the global economic downturn, there has been rising number of city bankruptcies. In turn, city management are increasingly valuing sustainable development. Outdoor lighting construction and maintenance costs have gradually increased over the years in city public lighting expenditures. City managers are creating suitable living environment that uses low investment and maintenance costs and can be met on a limited budget. 

Affected by the global economic downturn, there has been rising cases of city bankruptcies, which has led to city management increasing value of sustainable development. Among cities public lighting expenditures, outdoor lighting construction and maintenance costs have gradually increased over the years. City managers are also focusing their attention to making suitable living environment on limited budgets with low investment and maintenance costs.

Leaving 2013 behind, the LED industry is optimistic about the  2014 market. The editorial staff of  LEDinside in China has compiled a list of six research articles analyzing the future trends anticipated for 2014 including lighting, backlighting, and flash LED.   

LEDinside analysts revealed 2014 LED market trends during the LEDinside Chief Analyst Market Seminar organized by TrendForce at Shenzhen Marco Polo, China on Dec. 19, 2013. Renowned LED brands including Cree, Samsung Electronics, HC Semitek Corp., Refond and Honglitronics attended the seminar. The main agenda of the seminar was to discuss global LED trends in 2014 and Chinese market developments. LEDinside analysts approached the subject from lighting, backlight and package perspectives to give a comprehensive analysis. Below are some of the trends observed by LEDinside analysts:

Spurred by Chinese TV manufacturers’ demands, LED TV penetration rates reached 95% in 2013, according to LEDinside, a subsidiary of global research institute TrendForce. The organization estimates LED TV will completely replace CCFL by 2014, and annual LED TV shipment volume will grow at YOY 3% to 209 million. However, LED for backlight TV applications market value is expected to decrease 17% to US$ 2.41 billion. The main cause behind LED TVs growing shipment volume, but lower market value has been direct-type LED TVs reduced usage of LEDs and its high penetration rate of more than 60% in 2014. Compared to edge-type LED TVs, direct-type LED TVs only uses half the number of LEDs.

Spurred by LED lighting and mobile device market demands, sapphire substrate manufacturers have been actively expanding their production capacity, according to TrendForce subsidiary LEDinside’s “Global Sapphire Substrate Market 2013” research report. The top five sapphire ingot manufacturers for instance, have seen 2-inch equiv. sapphire substrate monthly production capacity grow by 75% to 7800Kmm compared to 2012.

4Q13 Silver+ Member Report- Outline Lighting Market Development Trend-Outline Lighting Level Package Market Trend- Product Development and Strategy  Trend One: Rising Commercial, Industrial And Outdoor Lighting Markets Trend Two: Mid Power LED Market Value To Surpass High Power LED For The First Time in 2013

4Q13 Silver+ Member Report- Outline Lighting Market Development Trend-Outline Lighting Level Package Market Trend- Product Development and Strategy  Trend One: Rising Commercial, Industrial And Outdoor Lighting Markets

In 2013, the LED package market value was US$ 12.5 billion and is expected to reach US$ 13.39 billion (Year-on-Year +7%) in 2014, according to a LEDinside gold member report. Tablets and smartphones are still highlights of the LED market in 2014. The two applications have shown stable growth as it benefited from increased resolution and market demands. As for lighting applications, LED package value and lighting applications greatly increased in 2014, with most evident growth in industrial, commercial and outdoor lighting markets. LEDinside observed several changes i...

Affects from the termination of China’s Home Appliance Subsidiary Programs in 1H13 caused LED backlight market demands to ease in June and July this year, according to LEDinside, a green energy research subsidiary of global research institute TrendForce. However, some chip manufacturers have reflected a rebounding market, due to stable market orders in 2H13 and several TV manufacturers inventory restock demands. In 2H13, the LED market might show signs of moderate growth during peak season in 3Q, and off-peak season in 4Q will deliver a solid performance.

Starting from 2012-2014, bans on incandescent lights has led to the gradual entry of LED products in the residential lighting markets, according to a latest search report by LEDinside, a research division of TrendForce. Improved LED luminous efficacy and lowered LED product prices contributed to higher consumer acceptance levels and rising penetration rates. Japan was the largest LED residential lighting market in 2012, followed by Europe and North America. However, China’s residential lighting’s global market share is also growing.

According to LEDinside, observed from the 2013 regional residential lighting market development, the Chinese market proportion will increase from 19% in 2012 to 24%, becoming the fastest-growing regional market. In terms of the European market, the implementation of comprehensive ban of incandescent lamps and the economic recovery after the European debt crisis gradually had a positive impact on LED light bulb market, and the LED light bulb market penetration rate is expected to increase.

LED die manufacturers are stabilizing raw material sources in the wake of rising LED lighting demands, and competition from other sapphire substrate applications. Epistar has reached a Patterned Sapphire Substrate (PSS) production capacity agreement with Crystalwise and Rigidtech Microelectronics (Rigidtech), in which two PSS production lines from each company will be fully supporting Epistar. Due to PSS higher prices, it is estimated substrate manufacturers’ 3Q13 revenue will hit double digit growths.

Although the market is dominated by low priced direct-lit LED TV’s, top international brands are planning to reduce direct-lit product shipments, due to impact from the end of China’s energy-saving subsidies and increased costs accrued from slimmer product designs. According to recent information, though, top international manufacturers are cooperating with secondary optic lens manufacturers to expand lighting angle from 140-150 degrees to 160 degrees. 

Important global LED application bases, the EU and U.S. high technology demands, safety standards, and technological barriers are impacting China’s LED exports. These technological barriers have become the biggest export obstacle for Chinese LED lighting products, such as LED strip display. In recent months, the EU and U.S. raised import standards are adding to the woes of Chinese LED lighting manufacturers and putting China’s 8,000 plus LED manufacturers on an arduous road to export goods. In the overseas market, Chinese manufacturers are “under siege” by Europe, U.S. and Japan’s technological barriers, and with a sluggish domestic market, manufacturers face an embarrassing oversupply situation.

Strong demands for mid-power LED products have increased shipments of Epoxy Molding Compound (EMC) lead frames. Taiwanese and Chinese LED package manufacturers have jumped into EMC lead frame technology. Taiwanese LED package manufacturers Everlight, Lite-On Technology (Lite-On), Unity Opto, and Advanced Optoelectronic Technology (AOT) are producing EMC package components. Chinese manufacturers including Lighting Optoelectonic Technology (LOT) and Refond possess EMC package component production capacity. Market research shows EMC lead frame prices are falling quickly, which is why most manufacturers are trying to improve price/performance ratio by applying EMC lead frames in 2-3W mid / high power LEDs, according to LEDinside. In the past, most EMC lead frame applications were for 1-2W LED.

Affected by LED chip’s consecutive price drop and efforts to control costs, Taiwanese chip manufacturers including Epistar, FOREPI, and others are turning to Chinese sapphire substrates. A move that directly contends Taiwanese sapphire substrate manufacturers’ price raise plans, and is expected to impact 3Q13 operations of companies including Crystalwise Technology (CWT), Tera XTAL Technology’s (Tera XTAL) and others.

Chinese banks’ recent credit crunch has impacted the LED industry. More than 100 LED manufacturers have defaulted as a result in Eastern and Southern China this year. Taiwanese LED manufacturers have emerged as the beneficiaries of the industry restructuring, as foreign investors purchase stock from industry leaders Epistar and Everlight.

In accordance with statistics in Gold membership reports of LEDinside, Green Energy Division of the Global market research firm TrendForce, thanks to strong demand in the global LED lighting market in the first half of this year, the utilization rate of MOCVD machines that the major chip manufacturers have installed and debugged shows rising trend. The chip price has been stable this year, but with the increasing capacity of chip manufacturers, it remains to be seen whether the LED chip price will be falling in the second half of this year, but in the long term, only the quit of invalid production capacity in China can help LED industry to return to supply and demand balance.

According to the latest "China LED Lighting Market Report (2013 Version)” from LEDinside, Green Energy Division of Global market research firm TrendForce, China LED lighting market will reach 32.4 billion RMB in 2013, and the annual growth rate is up to 36%. Residential lighting market is the major growth momentum with a growth of 96% in 2013, it becomes the second largest general lighting applications market only second to commercial lighting. Traditional lighting manufacturers like NVC, Opple, PAK and Foshan Lighting have expand to LED lighting, while LED package plants such as Everlight, Edison, MLS and Changfang Lighting have taken full use of LED manufacturing advantages to seize Chinese lighting market.

According to LEDinside, a research division of TrendForce, due to the oversupply of LED chips and other key raw materials, LED lighting product price has dropped to a more reasonable level. LEDinside’s statistics showed that in the Chinese market, 7W bulb price was between 45RMB-55RMB (10USD per Klm ), showing a price decline of more than 40% within one year. Knowing that the price-performance of LED lighting products has been accepted in the Chinese market, many LED lighting companies have started to do brand management and seize market channels. Traditional lighting manufacturers with brand resources and market channel advantages have also increased the LED lighting product lines in order to compete with new comers.

LEDinside (a research division of TrendForce) indicated in their “Chinese lighting market report-2013” that the rise of the domestic LED market has brought great business opportunities. After the European debt crisis, the export-oriented Chinese LED lighting industry shifted their business to emerging markets. Exports to Russia, for example, has already accounted for 2.8% of China’s total exports. The Chinese domestic LED lighting market has also become the major focus of manufacturers. Government bidding project support is a significant influencing factor; because the Chinese LED lighting market is deeply affected by the policy, an in-depth understanding of China’s policy for LED lighting would help understand the mechanism of the Chinese market. 

According to the latest “2013 Global Sapphire Substrate Market Report” published by the LEDinside research department of TrendForce global market research institute, the price declines of 2-inch and 4-inch sapphire substrate have slowed down in 1Q13, while there are even some signs on certain low market prices slightly rebound. 

According to the latest “2013 Global Sapphire Substrate Market Report” published by the LEDinside research department of TrendForce global market research institute, sapphire substrate manufacturers have been optimistic about the emerging demand on non-LED market applications in 2013 such as handset device applications, SOS, and window film. With the unlimited imagination of the future, there are still numerous manufacturers fighting for this non-LED market application with production plans despite of low market prices.

Global market intelligence organization TrendForce’s research division LEDinside and Consumer research division AVANTI joint research results showed that only 25% of average Chinese consumers had a clear knowledge of LED bulbs. If LED lighting wants to popularize their products, the key is through increasing consumer awareness.

According to LEDinside, a research division of TrendForce, starting from August 2012, at least 5 M&A cases occurred in China and Taiwan; Epistar, for example, acquired 49% of Huga’s equity, and Sanan Opto acquired 120 million of FOREPI’s common stock. LEDinside indicated that starting from 2010, Chinese LED chip industries have aggressively invested in chips and caused severe oversupply in the market; chip price has continued to decline, and most industries have been struggling to survive in the industry. Even with the economic recovery, upstream LED chip manufacturers still failed to extricate themselves from the oversupply situation. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that M&A is the only solution to this problem.

According to the latest “2013 Global Sapphire Substrate Market Report” published by the LEDinside, a research department of TrendForce, sapphire ingot manufacturers have been in the state of “the big gets bigger” such that first-tier manufacturers with cost competitiveness have accounted for 80% of market share.