According to DigiTimes this morning, OEM prices for entry-level DVD recorders
have dropped to US$70-80. Apparently, a lack of global demand has even
forced Sanyo Electric to forgo production, according to local industry
sources.
 Japan-based Techno Systems Research (TSR) projected that global
sales volume for DVD recorders would grow from 10 million units in 2004 to
17-18 million units this year, but Taiwanese makers estimate that the
global sales volume for 2005 may be less than 15 million DVD recorders
based on sales performance to date.
Lite-On IT, a leading maker in Taiwan, recently lowered its
annual shipment goal for DVD recorders from 1.3 million units to 1.0
million units and has also lowered the local retail price of its 160GB HDD
(hard disk drive) DVD recorder to NT$14,900 (US$450), the sources pointed
out. International and other local brands have followed suit by cutting
retail prices by 5-10%, the sources
indicated. |
Taiwanese makers are hoping that future lowering of costs
for consumers such as larger LCD and even plasma displays will in turn
increase demand for these optical recording devices.
Source: DigiTimes
