As the technology gains popularity worldwide, Philips Electronics is optimistic about LED lighting sales.

According to Olivier Piccolin, a senior vice-president and emerging markets general manager for Philips Lighting, global demand for LED lighting increases each year. LED products were 18% of global lighting sales in 2011, up from 14% in 2010.

In his opinion, 2011 was the turning point for LED lighting. And with the quality and performance including lighting intensity and colour rendering improving, the popularity of LED will continue to rise.

In Asia, demand for LED products comes primarily from customers seeking energy-efficient solutions. He thought Japan is the best LED market in Asia, because  the threat of natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, country's government and private sector are working together to reduce energy consumption.

And Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore also keep high usage rates. Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand use LED lighting at medium-to-high rates.

According to the general manger for lighting at Philips Electronics (Thailand), Thanakorn Wongwises, the demand was fuelled initially by businesses attracted to the energy saving, durability and reasonable payback periods offered by LED products. Restaurant chains, hotels and retail operators such as Tesco Lotus, MK Suki and Fuji Restaurant are the main customers. Additionally, The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has selected Philips GreenVision LEDs for road lighting at the Srinakarin Dam in Kanchanaburi province. Thailand's overall lighting market is worth 7 billion baht and grew by 4%. LED lighting has a 12% market share, expected to increase to 45-50% by 2015.