MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- LED component revenue for lighting applications reached $3.11 billion in 2012, narrowly dethroning the Large Area Display Backlight segment at $3.06 billion, according to Strategies Unlimited, the leading market research firm covering the LED industry.  The worldwide market for LED components was $13.7 billion and is expected to grow to $16.4 billion in 2017, for a CAGR of 3.7%.

The total illumination market for 2012 is estimated at $14.52 billion.  LED lighting includes LED replacement lamps and luminaires is estimated at $11.72 billion—an increase of 26% between 2011 and 2012—and it is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 12% over 2012-2017.

LEDs used in large display (TV and monitors) backlights also reached a new record at $3.06 billion in 2012. This is chiefly due to the success in penetrating the CCFL stronghold of the 32-inch TV.  

Chubby TVs will spread from 32 inches in both directions in size. It is expected to reach TVs 42 to 50 inches size in 2013-2014.  With drastic reduction in number of LEDs used and rapid price erosion, the large display market for LEDs is expected to decline to $1.7 billion in 2017.

The total market for LEDs in the automotive segment was $1.4 billion in 2012, and is projected to grow to $2.1 billion in 2017. The number of cars with LED headlights nearly doubled in 2012. Revenue for 2012 was $97 million and the five-year CAGR is projected to be 36%.

While LED revenue from tablets grew 54% to $578 million, the overall mobile segment dropped 3%.  The drop in notebook backlight demand, the OLED success in smart phone display, and the general demand decline for other small and medium display will take the segment down to $958 million in 2017, for a 5 year CAGR of -7%.

The signage segment is expected to grow to $2.4 billion in 2017, for a CAGR of 7%.  Use of LEDs in signage and channel letters grew 7% to $1.7 billion in 2012.  Full-color signs contributed more than 80% of the revenue.

On the supply side, 11 companies accounted for more than 72% of the LED market. Strategies Unlimited arrived at these figures after analyzing market demand as well as the supply-side activity of more than 54 LED component suppliers. The rank order of the top 11 suppliers in the LED market for 2012, by revenue of packaged LED components, is:

1.         Nichia
2.         Samsung LED
3.         Osram Opto Semiconductors
4.         LG Innotek
5.         Seoul Semiconductor*
5.         Philips Lumileds*
7.         Cree
8.         TG
9.         Sharp
10.       Everlight*
11.       Lumens*

(*Companies have the same ranking when the difference in revenue is within the margin of error. Revenue includes sales of packaged LEDs of 30 lm/W or more.)

The LED packaging industry is expected to grow modestly at a CAGR of 3.7% in the next five years. 2013 should see less severe price drops as excess capacity is slowly absorbed by the rise of lighting applications.

Strategies Unlimited's LED market analysis is being presented by Ella Shum, Director of the LED Practice, at the 14th Strategies in Light conference on February 13. Strategies in Light, the world's largest educational and networking platform for the LED and lighting industry, will be held February 12-14 in Santa Clara, CA. The event promises to feature more than 4,600 attendees and 200 exhibiting companies from more than 30 countries. For more information, see the conference web site at www.strategiesinlight.com.

About Strategies Unlimited
Founded in 1979, with headquarters in the heart of Silicon Valley, Strategies Unlimited is the world leader in market research in photonic devices. It has published reports on the LED market since 1994.  The company produces highly detailed market reports. On a custom basis, it performs specialized studies and consulting on narrow or focused topics related to the specific business interests of individual corporations.  Strategies Unlimited's analysts regularly give presentations at industry events and are often quoted in the business media.               

Contact:
Tim Carli
Strategies Unlimited
tcarli@strategies-u.com
+1.650.946.3163
www.strategies-u.com

SOURCE Strategies Unlimited