Shipments of sodium vapor high intensity discharge (HID) lamps increased 3.9 percent to 92.6 in 2010Q2, the highest level in two years. The index reading was 17.1 percent above the same period last year. Metal halide HID lamp shipments decreased 4.0 percent to 82.5 from the previous quarter, but were still 0.5 percent above the same period last year. The mercury vapor HID index declined 9.5 percent to 49.2, indicating shipments were less than half of the average 2006 level.

Market shares for sodium vapor and metal halide HID lamp types increased during the quarter. Sodium vapor lamps showed a 35.4 percent share of sales while metal halide lamps registered a 60.5 percent share, a slight difference versus the 34.5 and 60.4 percent figures, respectively, registered in calendar year 2009. The share of mercury vapor lamps slipped to 4.1 percent from 4.8 percent during the previous quarter.