Fluorescent Lamp Shipments Dim During First Quarter

NEMA’s shipment indexes for linear fluorescent T5, T8, and T12 lamps decreased during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period last year. T5 lamps showed the largest decrease, declining 7.9%, while T8s and T12s declined by 5.5% and 5.0%, respectively. Despite posting year-over-year declines, shipments of T5 and T12 lamps grew by 6.8% and 4.9%, respectively, on a quarterly basis. Shipments of T8 lamps decreased 4.9% over the previous quarter.

There were marginal changes in the market shares of the three linear fluorescent lamp types during the quarter. T5 lamps decreased 20 basis points to 9.7% year-over-year. Conversely, the shares of T8 and T12 lamps increased 10 basis points each registering readings of 65.% and 24.8%, respectively.