Digitimes reports that according to Robert Wong, chairman of CMC Magnetics, prices of optical discs will see a big price increase in 2013. According to Wong the prices might go up more than 50%. The reason for this is because both Japanese and second and third tier Taiwanese disc manufacturers will stop producing discs.
They're doing this because a lower demand of CD, DVD and Blu-ray recordable discs was expected. However DVD recordables are gaining popularity in emerging markets (South America, parts of Asia) and Blu-ray recordables are increasingly popular in mature markets (Europe / United States) . This means that the demand pretty much stays the same but that the supply is much lower which should result in higher prices.
Prices might first go down as the manufacturers that are ceasing production clear out inventories.
