HDD supply chain to stabilise in 3Q12

KUCHING, MALAYSIA: The flood-hit hard disk drive supply chain is set to stabilise in the third quarter of 2012.

Quoting a report from OSK Research Sdn Bhd (OSK Research), The Borneo Post Online says that the worst could be over and that major HDD markers such as Western Digital and Seagate would take the opportunity to push for better pricing in the near term.

The retail prices of HDDs had gone up to 50 to 100 per cent since October 2011, when the flood began.

"The report stated that the pricing of certain components had gone up by some 10 to 20 per cent since October, with base plates in particular surging by 30 to 40 per cent given the relatively more severe shortage. This was believed to work to the advantage of HDD component makers and spur the affected players to restore their facilities soonest possible," adds the report.