In what could alleviate high prices of hard disk drives (HDDs) after the devastating flood in Thailand that affected HDD foundries, industry sources predict that the reconstruction efforts of these foundries, led by Western Digital, will pay off to a large extant. In Q1 2012 alone, global volumes of HDDs are expected to restore to 80% of what they were before the floods. The global production of HDDs will increase to 140-145 million units.HDD vendors across the board have exhausted their inventories in Dec-Jan when they supply PC/notebook ODMs their inventories of HDDs, but they haven't hiked quotes due to the off-season that followed. However, the flood situation isn't the only factor that will affect HDD prices. With increase in prices of raw materials, components, and labour-costs, HDD prices are expected to go up 30-40%.

20 Comments on HDD Volumes To Restore 80% in Q1 2012

#1 RejZoR

Every excuse comes in handy to increase prices... Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 1:56 Reply

#2 H82LUZ73

Yeah tell me about it ,gee sh they were for a 2tb hd last year around $85 now they are around $175-$185,Now they want increase them 30-40% again get real,People will just buy SDD,and run there old HD for storage. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 2:12 Reply

#3 Zakin

So happy I bought my 2TBs for storage last year, got both for like 90 bucks total. Now the same terrabyte drives are like 160 bucks for some odd reason. Just going to hope these never die and buy bigger SSDs as the years go on. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 2:22 Reply

#4 n-ster

just when I have to buy 10TB -_- Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 2:51 Reply

#5 meirb111

H82LUZ73 Yeah tell me about it ,gee sh they were for a 2tb hd last year around $85 now they are around $175-$185,Now they want increase them 30-40% again get real,People will just buy SDD,and run there old HD for storage. i dont think so the price will not increase 40% from the current price from the old price

so there will be a drop in price just not as low as before:shadedshu i dont think so the price will not increase 40% from the current price from the old priceso there will be a drop in price just not as low as before:shadedshu Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 5:41 Reply

#6 twicksisted

Supply & demand... they only have demand now because their supply is low... once their supply issue is solved then they will have to drop prices to get rid of the excess stock to the average consumer and keep that balance.



Im sure most people like myself used to buy a new HDD when upgrading their PC as they were so cheap... the kind of crap that most home users (including myself) store on their 1TB+ HDD's is so petty anyways that its not worth paying big money for. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 6:01 Reply

#7 Rowsol

Well even at the higher prices people are still buying them. I don't see the prices coming down any time soon. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 9:42 Reply

#8 NdMk2o1o

WD> Samsung "man prices are so low per GB, if only we could raise them to make more money"



Samsung>WD "yea man, but how??"







Thailand Floods happen :eek:.......





WD> Samsung "Yo, you thinking what I am :cool:"



Samsung> WD "hell yea bro :rockout:"







...................... After a while when things look set to be returning to normal





WD> Samsung "Shit we can't milk the floods any longer, any ideas?? :banghead: "



Samsung> WD "Well we could say that raw materials have increased substantially even though HDD production is back up and we haven't reduced the cost per GB to what it was before the floods it will give us an excuse to hike them up to where they were when they were at their highest during the quote haha shortage!!!"



WD> Samsung "Shit man, thats some clever thinking right there, hahahaha suckerzzzzzzzzzz :nutkick: " Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 9:59 Reply

#9 Disparia

n-ster just when I have to buy 10TB -_- /passes n-ster a beer.



We might be here awhile ;)



I've been waiting since the floods. Had a cute ITX system with 6 x 2TB all planned out, just saved up enough to pay for it, than bam! The prices jumped. /passes n-ster a beer.We might be here awhile ;)I've been waiting since the floods. Had a cute ITX system with 6 x 2TB all planned out, just saved up enough to pay for it, than bam! The prices jumped. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 10:10 Reply

#10 newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder ndmk2o1o wd> samsung seagate "man prices are so low per gb, if only we could raise them to make more money"



samsung seagate>wd "yea man, but how??"







thailand floods happen :eek:.......





wd> samsung seagate "yo, you thinking what i am :cool:"



samsung seagate> wd "hell yea bro :rockout:"







...................... After a while when things look set to be returning to normal





wd> samsung seagate "shit we can't milk the floods any longer, any ideas?? :banghead: "



samsung seagate> wd "well we could say that raw materials have increased substantially even though hdd production is back up and we haven't reduced the cost per gb to what it was before the floods it will give us an excuse to hike them up to where they were when they were at their highest during the quote haha shortage!!!"



wd> samsung seagate "shit man, thats some clever thinking right there, hahahaha suckerzzzzzzzzzz :nutkick: " ftfy



Samsung isn't in the HDD business anymore. ftfySamsung isn't in the HDD business anymore. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 10:14 Reply

#11 GC_PaNzerFIN

Seagate already found a way to save some extra money, reduce warranty to one year for some models :/ Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 10:30 Reply

#12 w3b

RIP Samsung HDD Division



Lovely, ain't Oligopolies a beautiful thing :shadedshu Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 10:50 Reply

#13 newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder GC_PaNzerFIN Seagate already found a way to save some extra money, reduce warranty to one year for some models :/ WD did the same thing first. WD did the same thing first. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 11:05 Reply

#14 BumbleBee

I will never take mechanical hard drives for granted again haha Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 11:08 Reply

#15 Deadlyraver

Aw fuck this, I'm getting an SSD. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 12:51 Reply

#16 catnipkiller

I wonder if we will see a day that ssd are cheeper then hdd per gb. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 12:59 Reply

#17 Static~Charge

twicksisted Supply & demand... they only have demand now because their supply is low... once their supply issue is solved then they will have to drop prices to get rid of the excess stock to the average consumer and keep that balance. Don't be surprised if the supply doesn't reach pre-flood levels any time soon. Hard drive manufacturers have realized that they can make hefty profits by reducing the supply, and there are only two big manufacturers left in the game. Don't be surprised if the supply doesn't reach pre-flood levels any time soon. Hard drive manufacturers have realized that they can make hefty profits by reducing the supply, and there are only two big manufacturers left in the game. Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 13:06 Reply

#18 Static~Charge

newtekie1 WD did the same thing first. And Seagate one-upped WD by reducing their hard drive warranties And Seagate one-upped WD by reducing their hard drive warranties even more Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 13:09 Reply

#19 Salsoolo

Static~Charge Don't be surprised if the supply doesn't reach pre-flood levels any time soon. Hard drive manufacturers have realized that they can make hefty profits by reducing the supply, and there are only two big manufacturers left in the game. what is this the oil market?!!!!

they would be shooting themselves in the foot because SSDs are the future SSDs starting to look more attractive for me :Dwhat is this the oil market?!!!!they would be shooting themselves in the foot because SSDs are the future Posted on Feb 24th 2012, 18:49 Reply