LTO Accounted for 77% of Total Tape Cartridges in 1Q09

According to Back-Up Tape Tracker ($2,750) from the Santa Clara Consulting Group, backup tape cartridge sales amounted to $261.39 MM in the 1Q09.

LT-O accounted for 77% of total with sales of $202.40 MM. The media market is expected to have sales of $227.96 MM in the next quarter. LT-O cartridge sales declined moderately to 6.0 MM units in Q1. Their volume was supported by LT-O 4 which accounted for 31% of total LT-O unit sales and 45% of dollars. LT-O 3, LT-O 2 and LT-O 1 were significantly down. LT-O 3 sales represented 39% of segment units and 32% of dollars and LT-O 2 accounted for 26% of units and 20% of dollars.

Hewlett-Packard (H-P) was the LT-O market leader with a 30% share. Fuji was the second largest supplier. LT-O sales are expected to decline slightly in Q2.

The DDS/DAT cartridge volume rose slightly to 1.9 MM units. DAT-72 accounted for 35% of unit sales and 48% of the value of the segment. DAT-160 accounted for 14% of the value of the segment in Q1 and is expected to expand its presence in the Second Quarter. H-P led the DDS/DAT market with a 52% share. Segment dollar sales amounted to $14.00 MM.

DLT-S cartridge sales amounted to .41 MM units. Quantum led the segment. It was followed by H-P and Maxell. DLT-S dollar sales are expected to be $15.25 MM in the next quarter.

DLT-V sales were down at .24 MM units. Their value was $7.77 MM. Quantum led the segment with a 24% share. H-P was second at 22%.

DLTtape IV cartridge sales accounted for 65% of units and VS-1 the balance. Total segment sales are expected to decline again in Q2.

AIT media models support their respective installed bases of drives. Total AIT cartridge sales volume in the quarter amounted to .29 MM units. Sony held a 96% share in the segment.

Shipments of QIC cartridges in the quarter totaled .11 MM units. Their value was $6.32 MM. Imation dominated the segment with a market share of 93%.

The 8mm metal particle cartridge amounted to .04 MM units worth $0.18 MM. Sony led the segment with a 71% market share. Tandberg supplies 8mm metal evaporated cartridges for its VXA and Mammoth drives. It sold .07 MM units in the quarter.