NEMA’s shipment indexes for high intensity discharge (HID) lamps declined on a year-over-year basis (y/y) for the fourth consecutive quarter in 2013Q1. Shipments of sodium vapor lamps decreased 14.1 percent (y/y) to an index reading of 71.2 during the quarter. Mercury vapor lamp shipments were down a similar magnitude at 13 percent (y/y) to 44.2, the third lowest level in the index series. Metal halide lamp shipments fell too, posting an index value of 77.5, a decrease of 9.5 percent (y/y).
 
Market shares of the three lamp types varied less than 0.5 percent compared to the previous quarter. Sodium vapor lamps gave back 0.4 percentage points securing a share of 31.9 percent. Meanwhile, the shares held by mercury vapor and metal halide lamps increased marginally to 4.5 and 63.6 percent, respectively.