HDD production could rise to 80% in the first quarter

Digitimes, citing industry sources, said the global hard drive market could produce 140 to 150 million units in the first quarter of this year, equivalent to 80 percent of production before the flood.

According to reports, the stocks of major buyers fell significantly by the beginning of the year. Of the HDD manufacturers, Hitachi and Seagate Technology have suffered less damage than Toshiba and Western Digital, so they can recover production sooner. Manufacturers were able to produce 2011 million hard drives in the third quarter of 175. In the last three months of the year, it has dropped to 120-125 million. According to sources, the number of 2012 million units is already available in the second quarter of 160, which is close to the pre-flood level. I am pleased that in 2012, despite the positive developments, hard drives may be 30-40% more expensive than before the price increase.

Western Digital, which has been hit hard by the disaster, aims to reach 60, 80 and 100% of its pre-flood volume hard drive production capacity by the end of the first, second and third quarters.

Source: digitimes.com