Hard Drive Makers Will Enjoy successful Q4 2010 (eWeek)

Manufacturers of hard disk, despite constant pressure sector growing in the solid state, are supposed to compile some sales numbers this quarter will bring smiles to the end of 2010.

Industry analyst iSuppli reported on 15 December industry is experiencing a resurgence of the end of the year holiday as business searches and consumers in their portfolio to purchase more storage.

The increase in shipments of hard disk in the fourth quarter will mark right second window of growth following a move in the second quarter. Disk hard shipments reach an estimated units 169.2 million during the last three months of the year, which is 2.2 per cent 165.5 million units in the third quarter.

iSuppli projects revenues of industry in the 4th quarter to rise of 2.1%, amounting to 8.9 billion in sales in the world.

"Increases fourth quarter HDD shipments and revenues reflect a positive developments on many fronts, including the stabilization of prices, strong asked business segment and a level of inventory back to normal," said Zhang Fang, iSuppli storage systems analyst.

The growth planned for the fourth quarter represents a much lower than in the third quarter, when shipments rose by 3.4% and revenues increased 3.1% increase. Nevertheless, the performance of the second half of 2010 is a significant improvement in the first half, said iSuppli. In the second quarter shipments declined by 3.0% and revenue dropped 7.7% in the first quarter.

Western Digital has continued as leader indsutry, beyond Seagate earlier this year at no. 1. WD is supposed to ship hard disk units 51.5 million in the fourth quarter, 1.7 per cent of 50.7 million units in the third quarter. In comparison, the Seagate is supposed to ship 49.5 million hard drives, more small 0.6 per cent of the units 49.2 million during the same period.

Of revenue, the rankings are reversed as Seagate is expected to maintain its lead in the fourth quarter with sales of 2.8 billion dollars, which up to 3.7% $ 2.7 billion in the third quarter. Western Digital, which sells products in the consumer segment to high volume, but at lower prices, should remain at no. 2, with revenues of $ 2.4 billion or one per cent of 0.2 lean 2.39 billion in the third quarter.