Spurred by government policies and market demands, China’s LED package and module manufacturers have shown exponential growth in the past few years, according to a CNA report.

 Based on accumulated revenue performance in the last three quarters, Chinese LED manufacturer MLS has replaced Taiwanese LED manufacturer Lite-On to become the second largest LED manufacturer in Taiwan and China and is close at Everlight’s heels.

In recent years, China’s LED package and module manufacturers have benefited from government support and expeditious application market growth. MLS, Nationstar, and Jufei Optoelectronic are some of the rising manufacturers setting the trend of large manufacturers becoming bigger, and quickly catching up with Taiwanese LED manufacturers.

In 2009, only three Chinese LED manufacturers were among the top 15 LED manufacturers in Taiwan and China, said Taiwan’s Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association (PIDA). At the time Nationstar was the only Chinese LED manufacturer that was ranked as one of the top 10 cross-strait LED manufacturers.

Based on consolidated revenue for the first three quarters of 2014, MLS, Nationstar, Jufei Optoelecronics, Refond, Chanfang Lighting and Honglitronics were all ranked as top 15 LED manufacturers. MLS replaced Lite-On to rank in second, with its accumulated revenue for the first three quarters even reaching NT $12.9 billion (US $410 million). The company is catching up with Taiwanese rival Everlight. Other Chinese LED manufacturers Nationstar and Jufei Optoelectronics also ranked in sixth and tenth place respectively, and both companies reported strong revenue growth of above 40%.

The rise of China’s LED package and module manufacturing technology and operations in recent years is gradually meeting its large domestic LED application market demands. This is also reflected in its cross-strait revenue rankings, and their quick rise is creating stress for Taiwanese LED manufacturers.

As LED components application in lighting gradually increases, Chinese traditional lighting manufacturers are transiting into LED lighting. These manufacturers are globally competitive. In comparison, Taiwanese LED manufacturers influence in the global lighting market has remained low, and will hinder LED package and module markets long term development.

Taiwanese LED manufacturers need to formulate a flexible business strategy and cooperate with international manufacturers to strengthen LED export markets, said PIDA. On the other hand, under Taiwan’s LED business development infrastructure, manufacturers should focus on a few niche products with high market potential. To make significant development breakthroughs, companies should emphasize product differentiation and focus on UV and IR LED products.