According to TrendForce’s latest report, Gold+ Member: Global LED Market Supply and Demand Database & Quarterly Industry Update, the global LED market is projected to reach a total production value of USD 13 billion in 2025. While external factors such as rising tariffs in the U.S. continue to push up operational costs and product prices—ultimately dampening consumer demand—several niche segments such as Micro/Mini LED, automotive LEDs, horticultural lighting, and UV/IR LEDs are expected to maintain solid growth momentum.
Panel of Kinglight MiP0606 LEDs attracted great attention at InfoComm China 2025
Let’s dive into the highlights of key emerging LED applications that are poised to drive the next phase of industry development.
Driven by the rapid advancement of AI technologies, manufacturers are increasingly channeling resources into AR devices. Monochrome Micro LED engines, known for their high brightness and compact form factor, have already found early adoption in basic information display applications within head-mounted devices.
However, the rise of AI glasses has paradoxically slowed the penetration of Micro LEDs, as the monochrome engines struggle to differentiate in a competitive market. In the long term, AI glasses are expected to serve as a promising platform for full-color Micro LED displays. As single-chip full-color Micro LED technologies continue to mature, improvements in waveguide efficiency and ongoing material innovations are expected to drive down overall system costs. TrendForce predicts that Micro LEDs will experience a genuine market breakout in AR applications after 2027, thanks to their superior performance attributes.
Micro LED AR Glasses
Demand for Mini LED displays—particularly Chip-on-Board (COB) solutions—continues to surge in 2024. Major suppliers such as Samsung, LG, Leyard, Unilumin, Absen, BOE, Cedar Electronics, and Leyard are leading the charge. Technological advancements are also accelerating, with chip sizes evolving from 04×07 mil to 03×07 or even 03×06 mil formats. Fueled by strong end-user demand, Mini LED wafer shipments are expected to maintain a robust growth trajectory throughout the year.
Facing fierce competition, automakers are embracing advanced technologies such as adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlights, Mini LED tail lights, full-width tail lights, smart ambient lighting, and Mini LED backlit in-car displays to enhance product differentiation.
Although OEMs are expected to face continued cost pressures in 2025, which could lead to price reductions from LED suppliers, the overall market is still poised for growth. Based on key vendor order books, TrendForce anticipates a rebound in the automotive sector in the second half of 2025, with new LED technologies continuing to roll out into 2026. The automotive LED market is projected to reach USD 3.509 billion in 2025.
Automotive LED market grows fast in recent years.
Compared to traditional UV lamps, UV LEDs offer longer lifespans and simpler optical system integration. Leading manufacturers—including Nichia, Seoul Viosys, Violumas, and UVT—have launched full-spectrum UV LED product lines covering UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C ranges to meet growing demand for environmentally friendly and efficient disinfection solutions.
As technology continues to mature, Deep UV (DUV) LEDs are being widely adopted in disinfection, phototherapy, horticulture, and curing applications. Notably, ams OSRAM and Nichia introduced 115mW and 135mW UV-C LED components respectively between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025. Other leading suppliers of high-power (≥100mW) UV-C single-chip packages in early 2025 include Violumas, NKFG, UVT, and Lite-On Technology.
Overall, the UV LED market is gaining traction not only through steady demand for curing systems but also through new applications in HVAC systems, air purifiers, and water sterilization.
In 2025, demand for horticultural lighting is expected to rebound, with new technological solutions playing a key role in sustaining steady market growth.
On one hand, local cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants is gaining momentum, supported by health-conscious consumption trends and government subsidies. This is accelerating the construction of modern, multifunctional greenhouses. On the other hand, the market is entering a new round of equipment replacement, as LED lighting systems installed between 2020 and 2021 (typically under 3–5 year warranties) are now due for upgrades.
Horticultural lighting is another growing market for LED application.
The new generation of grow lights must meet increasingly stringent requirements for photosynthetic photon efficacy (PPE), light intensity, and multi-channel controllability—further fueling market demand in the agricultural sector.
