Global Electric Lighting Demand to Exceed $40 Billion in 2012

Global demand for electric lighting is forecast to exceed $40 billion in 2012 on annual gains of more than seven percent. The BRIC economies -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- are projected to be the fastest growing markets for electric lighting products through 2012. These four nations will account for about 40 percent of the additional demand generated between 2007 and 2012. The greatest gains will come from China, which is expected to be the world’s fastest growing market and largest producer of electric lighting. These and other trends, including market share and product segmentation, are presented in World Electric Lighting, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Several advanced national markets are expected to post respectable gains, among them the Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan and the US. Demand in these nations will benefit from an improved outlook for construction activity over the forecast period. However, for most other advanced economies, growth of the construction market is projected to decelerate.

Production of electric lighting is expected to continue to shift to the Asia/Pacific region, largely driven by Chinese manufacturing. China is projected to account for one-quarter of global shipments in 2012, with a significant share exported to the US. Eastern Europe is also forecast to account for an increasing share of global production, owing to increased trade with Western Europe.

LED lighting devices are forecast to grow at an above average pace in every regional market, as these products continue to penetrate both the construction and manufactured goods markets. Gains will be particularly fast in the Asia/Pacific region, where demand for LED lighting is expected to double between 2007 and 2012. Fluorescent lamps are expected to benefit from advances in nonresidential construction, as well as increased penetration of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in residential markets. The incandescent lamp segment is expected to be the slowest growing, restrained by slowing motor vehicle production and weaker residential construction (the segment’s principal markets) as well as greater competition from fluorescent lamps spurred by energy-efficiency concerns. Demand for incandescent lamps will be encumbered by government regulations intended to reduce the use of general service incandescent lamps.

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product segmentation and demand forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.