WW LTO Tape Cartridge Market Slightly Up in 3Q14 – Santa Clara Consulting Group

Backup tape cartridge sales amounted to $126.44 million in 3Q14 according to Back-Up Tape Tracker Report ($2,850) from the Santa Clara Consulting Group.

LTO accounted for 96.21 % of total with sales of $121.65 million.

The media market is expected to be $125.96 million in the next quarter.

Total LTO volumes was slightly up at 4.8 million units in Q3. LTO-6 continued its expansion in the quarter accounting for 19% of units and 33% of dollars. LTO-5 was also up from the previous quarter. It accounted for 40% of unit sales and 33% of dollars. LTO-4 rose slightly. It represented 30% of units and 25% of dollars. LTO-3 sales were slightly off. They accounted for 9% of volume and 8% of dollars. LTO-1 and LTO-2 were off -10% and -16% respectively from narrow bases. Combined, they accounted for 2% of units and 2% of dollars. HP led the LTO market with a 31% share. Fuji was the second largest supplier and IBM was third. Q4 LTO unit sales are expected to be slightly higher. They will be supported by growth of LTO-6.

The DDS/DAT cartridge volume was significantly down at .23 million units in Q3. DAT-72 accounted for 28% of unit sales and 29% of the value of the segment. DAT-160 accounted for 43% of the value of the segment and DAT-320 sold 4%. HP led the DDS/DAT market with a 75% share. Segment dollar sales amounted to $3.29 million.

DLT-S cartridge sales amounted to .01 million units. H-P led the segment. It was followed by Quantum and Maxell. DLT-S dollar sales are expected to be off to $0.47 million in Q4.

DLT-V sales were off at .004 million units. Their value was $0.17 million. DLT-VS1 cartridges accounted for 51% of units. Quantum led the segment with a 57% share. H-P was second at 29%. Sales of DLT-V are expected to be lower in Q4.

AIT media supports its respective installed bases of drives. Total AIT cartridge volume in the quarter amounted to .006 million units. Sony was their sole supplier.

Shipments of QIC cartridges in the quarter totaled .005 million units. Their value was $.36 million. Imation dominated the segment with a market share of 99%.

The 8mm metal particle cartridge amounted to .00002 million units worth $0.0002 million. Sony was the only supplier.