TrendForce: Highly Profitable UV LED Market Value Reaches US $122M in 2014

The global Ultraviolet (UV) market value in 2014 is estimated to reach US $815 million, in which the UV LED market has about a 15% market share or equivalent to $122 million market value, according to the latest report “2015 LED Demand and Supply Market Outlook” published by LEDinside, a research division of TrendForce. 

“UV LED single unit prices are usually ten times higher than average LEDs, which is why many LED manufacturers have entered the market, even though it remains a relatively niche sector,” said Joanne Wu, an assistant research manager at LEDinside. Major players in the UV LED sector include Japanese manufactures Nichia and DOWA, Korean manufacturers Seoul Semiconductor and LG Innotek, Taiwanese manufacturers Epistar, Epileds, and  HPLighting. Other European and U.S. manufacturers include HexaTech and Crystal IS. All the manufacturers listed above have been strong performers in the UV LED market. 

UV rays have always existed in nature, and is an invisible light source. There are two types of UV light sources including traditional mercury lamps and UV LED. “Compared to traditional mercury lamps, UV LEDs are mercury free, and have the advantages of being environmental friendly, possessing long lifetimes, energy efficient, and having minimum heat loss,” said Wu. UV LED markets hold great potential, due to technology advancements. 

UV LED product specs can be categorized into three different wavelengths UV-A (long UV wavelength of 320-400 nanometers (nm)), UV-B (mid-UV wavelengths of 280-320 nm) and UV-C (short UV wavelengths below 280 nm). Out of these UV-A had the greatest and highest market share of 90%. Currently, UV-A market’s largest application sector has been UV curing, which takes up more than 50% market applications, which covers Ink curing, resin curing, and the emerging 3D printing sector. Additionally, UV-A has been introduced in commercial lighting to make white clothing appear brighter. Globally, Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) UV exposure system still use conventional mercury lights. However, under energy efficiency and technology advancement considerations, UV LED is gradually entering the replacement market, and holds huge future potential. 

Due to UV LED products high technology entry level, including the product’s UV wavelength, intensity and thermal dissipation system. Additionally, if UV LED manufacturers must be capable of customizing products and simulating optical design to meet system client needs, to create a highly profitable blue sea market.