LTO Represents 90% of Tape Cartridge Revenues in 4Q11

Backup tape cartridge sales amounted to $187.45 million in the 4Q11, according to Back-Up Tape Tracker ($2,750), a report from Santa Clara Consulting Group.

LTO accounted for 89.7% of total with sales of $168.07 million.

The media market is expected to have sales of $173.55 million in the next quarter.

Total LTO sales were up at 5.9 million units in 4Q11. LTO-5 volume grew 18% in the quarter. It accounted for 21% of unit sales and 39% of dollars. LTO-4 shipments were up 4%. Its sales represented 46% of units and 36% of dollars. LTO-3 sales were steady. They accounted for 25% of volume and 18% of dollars. LTO-2 was also up. It accounted for 7% of units and 7% of dollars. LTO-1 was off. It sold 1% of units and 1% of dollars.

HP led the LTO market with a 34% share. Fuji was the second largest supplier and IBM was third. In 1Q12 LTO total volume is expected to be slightly higher, supported by shipments of LTO-5 and LTO-4. Sales of earlier generations are expected to decline.

The DDS/DAT cartridge volume decreased 10% to .6 million units in Q4. DAT-72 accounted for 46% of unit sales and 43% of the value of the segment. DAT-160 accounted for 25% of the value of the segment and DAT-320 took 8%. HP led the DDS/DAT market with a 69% share. Segment dollar sales amounted to $8.00 million.

DLT-S cartridge sales amounted to .1 million units. HP led the segment. It was followed by Quantum and Maxell. DLT-S dollar sales are expected to be off to $4.73 million in 1Q12. DLT-V sales were up at .06 million units. Their value was $2.53 million. Quantum led the segment with a 58% share. HP was second at 16%. DLTtape IV cartridges accounted for 41% of units. Sales of DLT-V are expected to be lower in Q1.

AIT media supports its respective installed bases of drives. Total AIT cartridge volume in the quarter amounted to .04 million units. Sony had an 87% share in the segment.

Shipments of QIC cartridges in the quarter totaled .02 million units. Their value was $1.42 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. Sony led the segment with a 42% market share. Tandberg Data supplied 8 million metal evaporated cartridges for its VXA and Mammoth drives. Sales were .02 million units in the quarter.