LED market is expected to be a rare bright spot—no pun intended—in what is forecast to be an otherwise dismal year for the semiconductor industry in 2009, according to a recent report.

The reported noted that aided by rising demand from LCD TV makers, revenue from LEDs is expected to increase by 2.9% in 2009, following 10.8% growth in 2008. In contrast, the overall semiconductor market is set to decline by 9.4% in 2009.

LEDs are forecast for growth this year, given that almost all other components will suffer revenue contractions in 2009. Although a 2.9% increase is only a moderate rise by the standards of the semiconductor industry, any revenue growth at all this year will be a remarkable accomplishment. Several major semiconductor categories are expected to suffer revenue declines for the year.

LEDs are used in LCD TVs to illuminate the display. Declines in prices and newer higher-brightness LEDs are enabling their usage as backlights in LCD TVs. The reported predict that the LCD TV market in 2009 will consume $163 million worth of LEDs, up 221.9 % from $51 million in 2008. By 2012, LCDTV LED revenue will grow to $1.4 billion, nearly nine times its 2009 value.