If you still use a lot of optical discs, you may want to start stocking up. According to DigiTimes, optical disc prices could rise by nearly 50% in the second half of 2013 due to manufacturers in Japan and Taiwan stopping production.
The global optical disc industry is experiencing a reshuffle which will continue into the first half of 2013 due to makers in Japan, as well as second- and third-tier Taiwan-based makers stopping production during 2012. Prices for optical discs are expected to increase by nearly 50% in the second half of 2013, according to Robert Wong, chairman of Taiwan's largest optical disc maker, CMC Magnetics.
There is some good news though. Thanks to a growing demand for DVD discs in emerging markets and for Blu-ray Discs in mature markets, global optical disc demand in 2012 is estimated to drop by less than 10% rather than the originally forecast 10-15%.
