The extent and depth of exhibitions was escalated at The Guangzhou International Exhibition 2016, which runs from June 9-12, 2016 at China Import and Export Complex. Besides developing an integrated platform at the exhibition, the show organizers also assisted manufacturers in building partnerships, and providing buyers with a one-stop shopping platform that encompasses lighting equipment, LED package, and new LED technologies.

China is one of the world’s largest automotive consumer market, by late 2015 car ownership in the country reached 172 million cars, and the volume is accelerating. It can be projected in the next few years, Chinese market demands for automotive components and after sales services will increase, the automotive lighting market possesses huge market potential.

France and UK recently sent recall notifications to the EU The Rapid Alert System for Non-food Dangerous Products (RAPEX) for LED luminaire products made in China, due to electric shock risks.

Chinese and Belgium government agencies signed a LED lighting partnership agreement in Hasselt, capital of Limburg province in east Belgium on Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

A Hong Kong designers Jason Lam and Sampson Wong’s interactive lighting display, “Our 60-Second Friendship Begins Now” got pulled by the local government for “unauthorized name change,” reported ejiinsight.

The sales of Aixtron to a Chinese investor last Friday sparked market rumors, with some industry insiders over interpreting and speculating San’an Opto is involved in the acquisition. LEDinside takes a look into this particular market rumor.

RayVio, an advanced UVC LED vendor, announced that it has closed new funding rounds of in total $26 million led by IPV Capital and Tsing Capital. RayVio will use the new funding to scale production to meet global consumer demand for protection against germs in water and environments. RayVio’s powerful Ultraviolet (UV) LED technology enables compelling new health and hygiene products, such as point-of-use water disinfection, and creates new markets and revenue streams for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners around the world.

StrongLED Lighting Systems, a company registered in Cayman Islands, but with operations based in Taiwan and China is rumored to have acquired Osram’s outsurce orders, reported Taiwanese media Commercial Times.

To accelerate digital outcomes and use cases for commercial, industrial and municipal users, Current, powered by GE (NYSE: GE), is adding 15 partners and microservices to its open Intelligent Environments ecosystem. The growth in the company’s app catalog and digital capabilities comes as Current deploys intelligent LED infrastructure in three cities –Tianjin, China; Schenectady, New York; and Cleveland – and on the heels of the company’s acquisition of Daintree Networks, an enterprise IoT provider of building controls solutions for small and medium commercial facilities.

OSRAM Lighting Solutions proudly introduces LIGHTIFY Pro to China market. With LIGHTIFY Pro, installers and building managers can install a wireless lighting solutions with little effort for their customers, in offices, medical practices, law firms, agencies, restaurants and shops. No data wiring or wall openings are required.

Proliferation of LEDs in the general lighting market has ushered the industry into a new phase of intense competition, contracting net profits, increasingly homogenous products and business models. Innovation has stagnated in the industry. To cope with these difficult market conditions, many companies have turned to niche lighting markets, such as automotive lighting which has a higher entry barrier, and higher profits. The less explored market has become a main development highlight for many companies.

Silver Spring Networks announced a new go-to-market partner, Rongwen, for its rapidly growing smart cities and smart street lighting business. Rongwen is one of the largest smart LED street light providers and operators in China, and has deployed more than 250,000 controllable LED street lights in its home country under the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) business model. 

Market sectors encompassing telecommunications, consumer electronics, innovative energy applications in transportation, electricity generation and other market sectors are increasingly valuing power semiconductor devices as usage of these components spreads throughout above listed markets. The dawn of “smart manufacturing in China” has provided new market opportunities in the power semiconductor industry, and spurred market growth. Some of these trends were discussed at “Power Semiconductor Forum” during SEMICON China 2016 organized by SEMI, which took place on March 17 in Shanghai.

One of the markedly visible changes to China’s latest lighting standard GB7000.1-2015, which addresses luminaires general test requirements, is the introduction of blue-light hazard regulations, stated the Machinery and Electrical Products Testing Center under Shanghai’s Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

Five Chinese LED manufacturers have been competing head-to-head in the bid for Osram’s lighting business, after the German company announced it would be spinning-off its less profitable general lighting business in April 2015. The five listed Chinese companies in the race for Osram’s lighting business include MLS (also known as Forest Lighting), ETI, Tsinghua Tongfang, Felio Acoustics and Foshan Lighting. All the potential Chinese buyers have the needed financing platforms, but for the German lighting company price is just one of the decisive factors, another main concern is the synergetic effect from the resulting partnership. In the article below, LEDinside evaluates the chances of the five companies’ succeeding in the acquisition of Osram’s general lighting business.

China’s ecommerce giants announced their breaking revenue results for Single’s Day on Nov. 12, 2015. The country’s online total revenue on the anti-Valentines day, commonly known as Single’s Day to locals, soared 52.7% to reach RMB 122.94 billion (US $19.29 billion), compared to last year’s RMB 80.5 billion according to data compiled by Syntun. Internet packages and deliveries climbed up 65.7% to reach RMB 678 million.

Singles Day celebrated by China every November 11 is one of the biggest shopping spree days in the country that can only be comparable to Black Friday in U.S., or Boxing Day in UK. Online Chinese retailer Alibaba has set a brand new record this year, completing business transactions at a much faster rate than last year.

LEDs might be a new lighting product, but it is being widely applied in different types of lighting applications, according to a report from Chinese-language Emerging Industry Strategic Library. To strengthen and advance energy saving technologies, many countries have issued their own LED lighting standards. Lighting was included in China’s energy efficiency standards, which became effective in January 2008, while the Energy Star in the U.S. has set certain energy efficiency standards during the certification process. The EU directive on energy-related products (ErP) covers LED energy savings.

Philips introduced two new smartphones that employs its Soft Blue technology to reduce eye strain in October 31, 2015 in China, according to an article from Vine Report.

The lighting industry has been steadily developing over the last two decades, with China becoming one of the largest manufacturing base and consumer market. According to data compiled by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) lighting products manufactured in China was up 10.7% YoY to RMB 418.5 billion (US $) in 2014.

The LED industry survived the economic downturn, and has started to rebound in 3Q15. Their financial results will reveal whether manufacturers are in the lead with a overflowing treasury, passing, or in the red zone.

Traditionally, manufacturers have contended for a spot in Apple’s supply chain, despite of its draconian demands. As seen in GTAT and the Cupertino-based company’s ugly fall out in October 2014, Apple might change the spec requirements of its customized products anytime, and expect suppliers to deliver in a short time frame. Additionally, a heavy US $50 million penalty is placed on manufacturers that breach confidential agreements. With strong product sales and a loyal consumer base, Apple might be appealing to work with, but being its supplier can be taxing.

Chinese sapphire maker Aurora announced last week, it would be investing RMB 40 million (US $6.32 million) in a new investment management arm to integrate investments in the sapphire supply chain, according to a report from China Securities Network.

Next generation OLED TV sales have soared 317% during the first half of 2015, according to a report from Business Korea.

Chinese manufacturers exported LED lighting goods to India for the first eight months of 2015 reached US $355 million, according to a DIGITIMES report.

Edmund Optics® (EO), the premier provider of optical components, announces that customers in China now have direct access to over 1,600 high performance laser optics from Edmund Optics’ large inventory of stock optics ready for immediate delivery. In addition, custom design and manufacturing of laser optics is now being offered for the first time to meet growing customer needs.

Moderate economic growth in 2015 has become the “new norm” for the stabilizing Chinese economy. With the Chinese government introducing industry restructures, explosive economic growth has become history. Gone are the good days for businesses, lighting manufacturers orders have plummeted, but costs are rising. The impact from e-commerce has misled some manufacturers, and the market has briefly become a “besieged fortress.” Some manufacturers are hanging on, while others are seeking alternative options to leave the industry, or quietly withdraw from the market, according to Guzhen Lighting Weekly.

China’s A-shares started off with a strong rebound this week, after plunging to an all-time low last Thursday and Friday. In the short term, A shares are stabilizing on the market. Many listed LED manufacturers that suspended trade to avert impacted by the volatile stock market have gradually resumed trade. More than 350 listed Chinese companies resumed trade as of Monday, according to latest statistics.

Flash LEDs in smartphones have evolved from being a “marketing gimmick” to “standard equipment.” LED usage in smartphones have also jumped up from single to dual flash LEDs, and it is increasingly common for flash LEDs to be found in latest smartphone models.

According to its 2015 Chinese LED Industry Market Report, LEDinside, a division of TrendForce, finds the scale of the Chinese LED package market for 2014 reached US$8.6 billion and grew by 19% annually. The general lighting market has been the main driving force, and the rising market penetration rates of commercial and residential LED lighting products has been fueling China’s growing demands. On the other hand, demand in the medium- and large-size LED backlight sectors have fallen due to technological advances that has reduced LED usage. The downturn in medium- and large-size LED backlight sectors has also been attributed to the LED TV’s easing demand growth.