LTO Accounted for 90% of WW Tape Market in 1Q12

Backup tape cartridge sales amounted to $188.18 million in the 1Q12, according to the Back-Up Tape Tracker Report ($2,750) from the Santa Clara Consulting Group (SCCG).

LTO accounted for 89.9% of total with sales of $169.25 million.

The media market is expected to have sales of $182.90 million in the next quarter.

Total LTO sales were up at 6.2 million units in Q1. LTO-5 volume grew 25% in the quarter. It accounted for 24% of unit sales and 39% of dollars. LTO-4 shipments were off -2%. Its sales represented 43% of units and 35% of dollars. LTO-3 sales were up +7%. They accounted for 25% of volume and 19% of dollars. LTO-2 rose +2%. It accounted for 7% of units and 6% of dollars. LTO-1 was off. It sold 1% of units and 1% of dollars. HP led the LTO market with a 31% share. Fuji was the second largest supplier and IBM was third. In Q2 LTO total volume is expected to ease -1%. It will be supported by growing shipments of LTO-5. Sales of earlier generations are expected to decline.

The DDS/DAT cartridge volume decreased -3% to 0.6 million units in Q1. DAT-72 accounted for 38% of unit sales and 42% of the value of the segment. DAT-160 accounted for 24% of the value of the segment and DAT-320 took 9%. HP led the DDS/DAT market with a 66% share. Segment dollar sales amounted to $7.57 million.

DLT-S cartridge sales amounted to 0.1 million units. HP led the segment. It was followed by Quantum and Maxell. DLT-S dollar sales are expected to be off to $4.81 million in Q2.

DLT-V sales were off at .04 million units. Their value was $1.66 million. Quantum led the segment with a 45% share. HP was second at 17%.

DLTtape IV cartridges accounted for 52% of units. Sales of DLT-V are expected to be lower in Q2.

AIT media supports its respective installed bases of drives. Total AIT cartridge volume in the quarter amounted to 0.06 million units. Sony had a 99% share in the segment.

Shipments of QIC cartridges in the quarter totaled 0.02 million units. Their value was $1.63 million. Imation dominated the segment with a market share of 95%.

The 8mm metal particle cartridge amounted to 0.02 million units worth $0.11 million. Sony led the segment with a 59% market share.

Tandberg supplied 8mm metal evaporated cartridges for its VXA and Mammoth drives. Sales were 0.02 million units in the quarter.