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Digitimes Insight: Japan quake unlikely to hit global LED supply chain

Jessie Lin, DIGITIMES Research, Taipei

LED players in Japan have been spared major impacts from the March 11 massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the country, as their plants are mostly far away from the stricken areas. With Japan not having a high market share in the LED industry, the global LED supply chain is not expected to be much affected, according to Digitimes Research.

Japan-based players whose plants did feel some impact from the quake include Taiyo Nippon Sanso, Namiki Precision Jewel, Showa Denko and Citizen Electronics.

Taiyo Nippon Sanso, which produces MOCVD machinery, only had a 2.5% share of the global market in 2010, and therefore any possible impact on its production would have little effect on the global MOCVD supply, Digitimes Research said.

Sapphire suppliers Kyocera and Namiki are expected to have a combined global market share of 15.4% in 2011. Kyocera's plants were only rocked mildly by the quake, while Namiki was only affected by power outages with its facilities all remaining intact.

Global sapphire supply is unlikely to see major impacts, but prices may stop falling, Digitimes Research said.

Japan LED supply chain

Sector

Company

Quake impact

MOCVD

Taiyo Nippon Sanso

Only had 2.5% of global market in 2010

Sapphire

Kyocera

Sapphire facilities not affected; ranked 5th globally

Namiki

Affected by power outage; facilities intact; ranked 6th globally

LED chip

Nichia

Facilities far from quake areas; supply unlikely to be affected

Toyoda Gosei

Facilities far from quake areas; supply unlikely to be affected

Showa Denko

Facilities near quake areas, but not hit with power outage; it only supplies to specific clients

Citizen Electronics

Facilities near quake areas; affected by power outage

Source: Digitimes Research, March 11

MOCVD

Source: Digitimes Research, March 2011

kyocera and namiki

Source: Digitimes Research, March 2011

sapphire market share

Source: Digitimes Research, March 2011