LED light bulb price in Japan underwent steep drop in November

TAIWAN: According to the price survey of LEDinside, a research division of TrendForce, the ASP of LED light bulbs for 40W incandescent light bulb replacement slightly decreased 2 percent in November, while the ASP in Japan plunged by nearly 10 percent. As for the LED light bulbs for 60W incandescent light bulb replacement, the ASP slightly increased, but the lowest price fell below $24.

40W Equivalent LED Light Bulb Prices Underwent Steep DropSource: LEDinside, Taiwan.

LEDinside’s survey indicates that, even though the ASP of LED light bulbs for 40W incandescent light bulb replacement dipped merely 2 percent, it dropped by 10 percent in Japan due to the global and Japanese brand names’ increasingly aggressive price strategies. At present, the ASP of 40W replacement is at about $22.6 worldwide and below $20 in Japan. LEDinside indicates that the South Korean market still has the most competitive price (approximately $11.4) for LED light bulbs for 40W replacement.

60W Equivalent LED Light Bulb Prices Plummeted Below $24Source: LEDinside, Taiwan.

As for the prices of LED light bulbs for 60W incandescent light bulb replacement, the ASP slightly increased 2 percent in November due to exchange rate fluctuations and the adjustment of product strategies. The ASPs in Japan and the United States surged due to major makers launching new types of LED light bulbs.

However, LEDinside finds that despite the high prices of certain new LED light bulbs resulting in higher ASP, the old light bulbs’ prices are still facing a downtrend. As a result, the light bulb prices in markets are still falling. For example, the price of Philips’ 800lm warm white LED light bulb in the United States dropped from $24.97 in October to $24 in November, representing a 4 percent decrease.

Perspectives from LEDinside
In addition to the prominent downtrends in Europe, the United States and Japan, prices of the top LED light bulb brands in China begin to drop as well. LEDinside states that in terms of the high-end products (with luminous efficacy higher than 80lm/W or 800lm), manufacturers’ strength in product development will primarily determine their products’ prices.

However, with the improved market acceptance, technological advancement and decreasing costs, the price downtrend is expected to persist. After all, when consumers choose among products with similar specifications and qualities, price will come into play, in particular for 400lm light bulbs.