The global market consumption of packaged light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for signage and professional displays will continue to increase in value, according to the latest forecast by ElectroniCast Consultants, with rising quantities largely offset by declining average prices.

The market research consultancy predicts the worldwide volume of LEDs used in signs and other professional displays, in terms of quantity, will rise from 57 billion units in 2012 to 143 billion units in 2018. (Note: the market forecast data in the new study/report refers to consumption within a particular calendar year, so it is not cumulative data.)

The forecast numbers include both standard and high-brightness (HB) LEDs. For its market-research purposes, ElectroniCast defines HB LEDs as component-level bulbs rated for 30 lumens per watt (lm/W) and greater, while standard-type LEDs are those rated for less than 30 lm/W.

The application category covered by the new report includes LEDs used in a wide variety of signs and displays, including large outdoor video screens, building façades, restaurant displays, digital billboards, retail displays, taxi signs, mass transit vehicle destination signs, channel letters, lightboxes, stadium scoreboards, backlit liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and other screens specified exclusively for professional purposes.

ElectroniCast reports the Americas region—including North, Central and South America—and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are currently near-even in market share, but the latter is forecast to grow at the fastest pace, averaging 22.8 per cent per year. The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, meanwhile, continues to hold a much smaller share of global consumption value in 2013.

The full market forecast report is available through www.electronicast.com.