Taiwan Industrial Economics and Knowledge Center (IEK) forecasts that the global LED general lighting market may grow to US$1.4 billion by 2012. IEK mentioned that although the LED general lighting market is not expected to see explosive growth, growth will remain steady over the next few years.

The LED general lighting market grew 60% in 2007 to US$330 million, IEK indicated, while adding that growth was driven by increased demand in Asia emerging markets, such as from China for infrastructure projects for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, with such projects coming to an end, growth in the LED lighting market this year is estimated to slow to about 50%.

LED lighting applications vary, but landscape lighting is the top segment. IEK pointed out. Architectural landscape lighting accounted for 45% of the total LED lighting market in 2006, on related sales of US$93 million. Sales for the segment may grow to US$470 million, and account for about 50% of the total LED lighting by 2011, IEK estimates.

The channel letter (for words used in signage) segment ranked second with a 17% market share in 2006, on sales of US$34 million. Orders for channel letters chiefly are from companies such as McDonald's and Wal-Mart and IEK estimates the market may reach US$79 million in 2010. The number three segment is the consumer portable segment, with flashlight being the major application. The segment accounted for 14.6% of the market in 2006, on sales of US$30 million. IEK estimates that the market may reach US$99 million in 2011.