WW Tape Cartridge Sales: $178 million in 3Q11

Backup tape cartridge sales amounted to $178.21 million in the third quarter of 2011, according to 3Q11 Back-up Tape Tracker Report ($2,750) from Santa Clara Consulting Group, a market research source for information relating to removable data storage media. SSCG predicted sales of $190.23 million for the period in its former 2Q11 report.

LTO accounted for 89.2% of total with sales of $158.89 million. The media market is expected to have sales of $157.76 million in the next quarter.

Total LTO sales were off at 5.6 million units in Q3. LTO-5 was a bright spot with 12% growth. It accounted for 18% of unit sales and 36% of dollars. LTO-4 was marginally up. Its sales represented 47% of units and 37% of dollars. LTO-3 sales were down. They accounted for 26% of volume and 19% of dollars. LTO-2 was also lower. It accounted for 8% of units and 7% of dollars. LTO-1 was up. It sold 1% of units and 1% of dollars. HP led the LTO market with a 32% share. Fuji was the second largest supplier and IBM was third. In 4Q11 LTO total volume is expected to be relatively steady, supported by higher volumes of LTO-5 and LTO-4. Sales of earlier generations are expected to decline.

The DDS/DAT cartridge volume decreased to .7 million units in Q3. DAT-72 accounted for 42% of unit sales and 46% of the value of the segment. DAT-160 accounted for 21% of the value of the segment and DAT-320 took 8%. HP led the DDS/DAT market with a 72% share. Segment dollar sales amounted to $8.23 million.

DLT-S cartridge sales amounted to .1 million units. HP led the segment. It was followed by Quantum and Imation. DLT-S dollar sales are expected to be off to $4.90 million in Q4.

DLT-V sales were down at .04 million units. Their value was $1.43 million. Quantum led the segment with a 41% share. HP was second at 26%. DLTtape IV cartridges accounted for 66% of units. Sales of DLT-V are expected to be down in Q4.

AIT media supports its respective installed bases of drives. Total AIT cartridge volume in the quarter amounted to .05 million units. Sony had a 92% share in the segment.

Shipments of QIC cartridges in the quarter totaled .02 million units. Their value was $1.57 million. Imation dominated the segment with a market share of 94%.

The 8mm metal particle cartridge amounted to .01 million units worth $0.07 million. Imation led the segment with a 35% market share. Tandberg supplied 8mm metal evaporated cartridges for its VXA and Mammoth drives. Sales were .03 million units in the quarter.