LED market rebounds with 2021 revenue forecast to hit $16.53 billion

19 May 2021

After pandemic hit last year’s sales, recovery is mainly due to automotive and mini-LED applications, says analyst TrendForce.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, not only did LED revenue experience a downward trajectory, but this decline also reached a magnitude rarely seen in recent years, according to a new market analysis published by TrendForce. However, adds the Taipei-based research group, “as vaccinations have started during the first half of 2021, the LED market’s long-stifled demand is expected to rebound from rock bottom.”

Therefore, global LED market revenue will likely undergo a corresponding recovery this year as well, with the agency forecasting a total of $16.53 billion, which would represent an 8.1% increase, YoY. “Most of this increase can be attributed to four major categories, including automotive LED, Mini/Micro LED, video wall LED, and UV/IR LED,” the report stated.

TrendForce expects the soaring growth of “new energy vehicle” (NEV) sales and the accelerated adoption of LED lighting solutions in new models of conventional fossil fuel vehicles during 2021 to generate “a persistently rising penetration rate of automotive LED solutions since 2020”. Automotive LED revenue for 2021 will likely reach $2.93 billion, a 13.7% increase YoY, making it the fastest growing sector among all LED applications.

Demand for emerging Mini/Micro LED technologies in display applications, on the other hand, has been “skyrocketing” this year, says TrendForce. In particular, the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro and Samsung TVs both feature Mini LED backlighting technology, and these products will propel Mini/Micro LED revenue for 2021 to $380 million, an impressive 265% increase YoY, in turn giving the Mini/Micro LED sector the second largest growth among the four categories. Coming in third place is the video wall market.

Emerging products, such as all-in-one LED displays for meeting and conference, 5G 8K ultra-high resolution video walls, home theaters, and virtual production, have placed the video wall market in the spotlight in recent years, the agency continues. Video wall LED revenue for 2021 is expected to reach $1.78 billion, a 12% increase YoY and the third-largest growing sector in the LED industry.

TrendForce also points out that, among all segments of the UV/IR LED market, “the UV-C LED segment has garnered significant attention due to the onset of the pandemic. Not only have various brands been gaining a major awareness of the importance of disinfection and sterilization, but UV-C LED products have also been improving in terms of radiant (optical) power.”

Notably, home appliance brand manufacturers from China, Europe, Korea, and Japan are all planning to integrate UV-C LED technologies into their products, and over 35 manufacturers are introducing or planning to introduce UV-C LED in their products. All in all, various applications are expected to drive up UV/IR LED revenue to $830 million, a 27% increase YoY.

Lumileds offers German market LED retrofit headlights

Global lighting solutions company Lumileds has announced the launch of the Philips Ultinon Pro6000 LED automotive bulb into the German market. Approval of the H7-LED type by federal authorities means that drivers across the country can now legally upgrade their headlights from halogen to Philips LED.

A comprehensive testing program in collaboration with TÜV Rheinland confirmed the new Philips LED bulb’s high performance, enabling homologation by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority. Drivers can now convert their halogen headlamps to the brighter, safety-approved light of Philips Ultinon Pro6000 H7-LED on a wide range of car models.

With the new Philips one-piece design, the bulb using the same Lumileds LEDs provided to leading car manufacturers, fits into many existing headlamp units with no need for adapters. Integrated electronics ensure a compact footprint, says Lumileds, making installation easy for DIYers or mechanics even where space is tight.

The developer adds, “Once fitted, the new H7-LED provides up to 230% brighter light than the legal minimum for halogen bulbs. Its cool white beam, with a color temperature of up to 5,800 Kelvin, boosts visibility to help drivers see further and delivers a perfect beam pattern that illuminates without dazzling other road-users.”

Lumileds was the first automotive lighting company to offer a road-legal LED headlight bulb in South Korea back in July 2020.