40W equiv. LED Bulb Prices Dropped in March, according to TrendForce

Global 40W equiv LED bulb ASP dipped slightly by 1.3 percent in March to US $14.9, with price decrease most evident in China, according to LEDinside, a division of research organization Trendforce’s latest LED bulb retail findings for March 2014. ASP for 60W equiv LED bulbs did not fluctuate and remained at US $20.8. 

As global LED bulb ASP dropped slightly in March, many manufacturers entered into the smart lighting market, according to Terri Wang, Analyst of LEDinside. Osram joined the ranks of Philips and Samsung with its LIGHTIFY smart control system. The system, like many others, relies on using handheld devices with WiFi Internet connection as an interface, and uses a Gateway paired with Zigbee wireless transmission as a communication bridge between the luminaire and handheld device. Currently, one gateway can control around 50 light fixtures. LG has recently formed a partnership with Daintree to develop built-in Zigbee wireless LED luminaires. Additionally, Cree has also jumped on the lighting control system bandwagon. The company has developed their own wireless control platform, called SmartCast. Integration of smart control systems and lighting is anticipated to gradually become the mainstream in the not so distant future. 

40W equiv product ASP dipped while 60W equiv product ASP remained steady 

In China, 40W equiv product ASP dove 14.7 percent in March on the back of increased exchange rates. Existing products also dipped in price. Foshan Lighting’s 7W bulb, for example, decreased from US $4.3 to US $2.9. The bulb has a luminous flux of 450-500lm and comes with a two year warranty. Haide likewise experienced a drop in price. The company’s 5W bulb price plummeted from US $12.3 to US $4. The bulb has a luminous flux of 450lm and a lifespan of 30,000 hours.  

U.S. 40W equiv LED bulb ASP decreased as well in March, sliding 7.6 percent. Existing product ASP either remained steady or decreased, with a portion of products showing a clear downward trend in price. The price of Cree 6W dimmable bulb, for example, dropped to US $4.97 in some U.S. regions after receiving a subsidy from Energy Star. 

In terms of 60W products, ASP in Japan declined 14.8 percent to US $19.2 in March. Existing product prices mostly dipped slightly, and sales for a portion of high priced products temporarily ceased, such as Sharp’s 10.4W bulb priced at US $32.4. Conversely, the ASPs in U.K. and Germany in March both rose, with price increase most evident in existing products. Ledon’s 12W omni-directional bulb price climbed from US $20.8 to US $34.8 in the German market, for instance.