Viewing that demand for LED lighting in the China market has been growing fast, many China-based LED packaging houses are expanding or will expand capacity for PLCC (plastic leaded chip carrier) packaging for small-size LED devices used in lighting products, with a total monthly capacity equivalent to 10 billion LED chips to be added in 2013, according to and estimate by Taiwan-based LED makers based on orders for packaging equipment.
China-based LED packaging houses include MLS and Shenzhen Changfang Lighting, with MSL being the largest with a monthly packaging capacity of one billion chips, the Taiwan-based LED makers indicated. In addition, many China-based makers of conventional lamps, including NVC Lighting Technology, Opple Lighting, PAK and Foshan Lighting, have stepped into production of LED lighting products, the sources said.
Demand for commercial, residential, industrial and outdoor LED lighting in the China market in 2013 will grow 24%, 96%, 28% and 46%, respectively on year, the sources cited market forecast as indicating. LED lighting demand in China in 2013 will reach a total market value of CNY32.4 billion (US$5.29 billion), hiking 36% from 2012, according to LEDinside.
Everlight Electronics, the largest Taiwan-based LED packaging house, currently has a total monthly capacity of 2.5 billion chips, of which 600 million chips are specifically for use in LED lighting, the company said. Everlight will expand packaging capacity for LED lighting by 20% in the second half of 2013, the company noted. Taiwan-based fellow maker Edison Opto will expand monthly PLCC packaging capacity to 300 million chips at the end of the third quarter of 2013 and further to 500-1,000 million chips at the end of the year, the company indicated.
