Demand for high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, as measured by NEMA’s HID shipment indexes, remained soft during 2013Q3. Seasonally adjusted shipments of sodium vapor lamps dipped 3.2 percent on a quarterly basis (q/q), falling to a new series low. Similarly, mercury vapor lamp shipments reached the second lowest level in the series, declining by 5.5 percent q/q. Metal halide lamps, the largest HID lamp segment, contracted by 1.6 percent q/q.
Marginal shifts in market shares for each lamp type occurred during the quarter. Shares of sodium and mercury vapor lamps declined slightly to 32.8 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively. Metal halide lamps increased by 50 basis points to a share of 63.1 percent.