Late surge boosted LED market in 2009

After experiencing a recession related downturn in the first half of 2009, a new report generated in Taiwan suggests that the global LED industry experienced considerable growth later in the year, managing to offset the impact of the earlier stagnation.

The Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association (PIDA) called a meeting with the press recently in order to discuss its predictions for the development of LED systems in 2010 and to announce results for performance in Taiwan and around the world in 2009.

Globally it found that there was negative growth in 2009, with performance having been less favourable than it had been in the previous year. However, a boom in the market that took place during the latter half of 2009 saw a significant turnaround, averting what could otherwise have been a disastrous period for the industry.

In Taiwan the market managed to recover from a 30 per cent decline in revenues during the first half of 2009, with only a 3 per cent overall deficit compared to 2008 by the year’s end. It is believed that the availability of LED systems used as backlighting for displays was a significant contributor to recovery.

Over the next 12 months, PIDA anticipates the Taiwanese LED market to be worth in excess of a billion US dollars (�620 million), which will form a significant proportion of a global market that is anticipated to generate a total of nearly �1.9 billion in 2010.

There has been growing optimism amongst industry experts and independent observers monitoring the LED technology industry, with many supporting the predictions that significant growth is likely to be seen in the sector this year. Whilst a significant proportion will no doubt centre on LED backlighting and other LED lighting solutions, growing demand for LED displays is also anticipated.