HID Lamp Shipment Indexes Continue to Decline

NEMA’s indexes for high intensity discharge (HID) lamp shipments declined for the second consecutive quarter in Q3 2012. Sodium vapor lamp shipments decreased 14.8% year-over-year during the quarter, following a loss of 6.8% during the previous three month period. Shipments of metal halide lamps fell 6.9% and 4.9%, respectively, in Q3 and Q2. Mercury vapor lamps contracted significantly, retreating by 23% to reach a new low for the index. Combined HID lamp shipments through Q3 2012 declined nearly 5% versus last year.

Sodium and mercury vapor lamps gave up ground to metal halide lamps for the quarter. Metal halide lamps gained 2.3% points year-over-year ( to reach a share of 63.8%. Sodium vapor lamps decreased to 32.4%, down 1.7 points. Meanwhile, the share of mercury vapor lamps fell slightly to just shy of 4%.