According to a new technical market research report, the global market for printed electronics is expected to be worth $3.1 billion in 2008. This will increase to $8.8 billion by 2013, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.2%.

The market is broken down by application and includes optoelectronics, radio frequency (RF), energy, sensors and other applications. Optoelectronics applications dominate the market with a share of more than 85% in 2007 and 2008, declining to 69% in 2013. Optoelectronics generated $2.5 billion in 2007, an estimated $2.7 billion in 2008 and $6.1 billion in 2013, for a CAGR of 18.1%.

Sensors were the second largest segment in 2007 with $375.0 million in revenue and should continue in second place through 2008, generating $423.5 million. Sensors should grow in absolute terms but lose market share over the next five years, declining from 13% of the market to 9.5%. Expected revenue in 2013 is $842.5 million, for a CAGR of 14.7%.

RF applications are expected to grow from $10.0 million in 2007 to $18.4 million in 2008 and $413.0 million in 2013, a CAGR of 86.3%. The energy segment is the fastest growing segment and is expected to achieve a market share of 16.2% by 2013. Energy applications generated $9.0 million in 2007 and are expected to reach $18.1 million in 2008. This is expected to increase to $1.4 billion in 2013, for a CAGR of 139.5%.

Other applications are expected to grow at a CAGR of 118.7%, from an estimated $1.0 million in 2008 to $50.0 million in 2013.

Currently, major end-uses of printed electronics include consumer products, advertising and medicine and health care/life sciences. End-user segments that are expected to gain significant market share over the next five years include building products and transport and logistics.