By Tatsuya Moritani / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
Supply and demand balance for light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is becoming tight in Japan. This is due to a surge in replacement demand ahead of the ban on the manufacture, import and export of fluorescent lamps for general use by the end of 2027, as mandated by an international treaty regulating mercury. Supply delays have begun to emerge for some LED products intended for corporate customers.
In late February, Panasonic Corp., the industry's largest company in Japan, issued a notice to distributors and contractors stating that new orders for products such as ceiling-mounted "Base Light" series fixtures for corporate customers could take several months for delivery.
In addition to Panasonic, which holds about 40% of the domestic market share, major companies such as Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corp. and HotaluX Ltd. are also experiencing delays in product delivery for corporate customers.
"We are increasing production and strictly managing inventory, but we are unable to keep up with demand," said a spokesperson for Toshiba Lighting & Technology.
According to Panasonic, while retailers and others are placing excessive orders in anticipation of rising demand, pickup delays are causing inventory pile up in warehouses, in turn leading to production delays, in some cases.
At the fifth Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury held in 2023, it was decided that the manufacture, import and export of fluorescent lamps for general lighting purposes would be banned by the end of 2027. Although these lamps can continue to be used after the production ban takes effect, sales will be limited to existing inventory.
Panasonic plans to end its production of fluorescent lamps by September 2027. Production of certain types, such as bulb-shaped lamps, has already ended. Meanwhile, the company is expanding production capacity for LED lighting at its plant in Tsubame, Niigata Prefecture, by 30% compared to the 2023 level. Still, a company spokesperson said, "Demand is growing faster than anticipated, and there is no clear outlook for resolving the supply delays."
According to the Japan Lighting Manufacturers Association, the combined adoption rate of LED lighting for residential and non-residential use stood at 66.4% as of last December. The association has set a goal of raising this figure to 100% by 2030.
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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.
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March 19, 2026 07:19 ET (11:19 GMT)
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