HB Chen, chairman of LED epitaxial wafer and chipmaker Lextar Electronics, expects global LED-backlit LCD TV shipments to reach 30 million units in 2010 with a 25% share of the overall LCD TV market.
LED-backlit units are expected to account for 50% of the total LCD TV market in 2011, noted Chen, whose company is a subsidiary of panel maker AU Optronics AUO
In response to concerns over possible oversupply of LEDs in 2011, Chen indicated that it would be normal in the demand-supply cycle. He said that there should not be too much concern about demand in the market, but the impact of the economy on consumer spending capability should be still monitored in 2011.
LED-backlit monitors are expected to account for over 30% of the global monitor market in 2010 with vendors introducing LED-backlit models carrying prices similar to CCFL-backlit ones, Chen added.
AUO now accounts for over 80% of Lextar's revenues, and the company is actively expanding its client base in 2010, Chen said. With Japan and European countries promoting eco-friendly products, LED lights are fast replacing conventional ones, he added.
Lextar is not only supplying LEDs but also lighting modules, and may also develop own-brand products in the future, Chen said. Lextar will have the chance to enter the Japan market, and LED lighting products will account for 10% of its total revenues in 1-2 years, he said.
Market observers have speculated that Wellypower Optronics, which is also an AUO subsidiary that makes both LED and CCFL products, may go through some form of integration with Lextar in the future.
But Chen, who is also chairman of Wellypower, said Lextar is already a supplier of Wellypower's, and the two companies will give priority to integration of their supply chains.
LED production's share of Wellypower's revenues exceeded CCFL's in May, but the share of lighting products was still lower than 10%, Chen added. Wellypower is continuing to develop its own-brand products and HCFL hot-cathode fluorescent lamp energy-saving lighting products, and actively expanding its business in Southeast Asia, he noted.
