Taiwan LED sales hold steady

Taiwan’s sales of new energy-efficient lights held steady during the third quarter of this year after demand slowed and energy prices that are encouraging the use of lower-cost lighting returned to nearly the same level as they were a year ago.

LED makers reported that their sales edged down 1.8% in the third quarter of last year from the same period a year earlier.

Taiwan’s LED sales during the first half of last year rose by more than 16%.

“The IT industry is suffering a slowdown,” market researcher LEDinside said on its website in an October 10 report. “The wide application of LEDs has to wait for the industry to recover.”

Lower prices for energy sapped demand for new devices such as LEDs that help improve energy efficiency.

Uses of high-brightness LEDs are growing, according to market research company ResearchinChina. Car manufacturers are starting to use LEDs for high-beam and low-beam headlights and some LED suppliers in Taiwan started to supply vehicle makers in China.

Computer maker Dell plans to change all its new laptop displays to LEDs in the next 12 months.

In addition to being mercury free and highly recyclable, LED displays deliver significant energy savings compared to cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) technology.

For example, Dell’s 15" LED displays consume an average of 43% less power at maximum brightness, resulting in cost and carbon savings.

The LED market grew by nearly 10%, increasing from the 6% growth rate in 2005 and 2006. The use of LEDs for signs, cars, signals and illumination together grew by 20% in 2007, with illumination applications growing the most rapidly.

Taiwan has the world’s second largest LED industry with a fifth of the global market. Japan has the world’s largest LED industry with a nearly 40% share.