JRIA Predicts Strong Demand For Blu-ray Discs
The Japan Recording-Media Industries Association (JRIA) announced today its forecast for global demand and production of Blu-ray media based on estimates for 2008.
According to the report, global demand for Blue laser discs (Blu-ray and HD DVD) in 2008 will be increased by 400% (20 million units), compared to last year. Based on these figures, JRIA estimates that the demand will be further increased in 2009 in a total amount of 64 million units, which is translated to an annual increase of 320%. The demand for the Blue laser discs will peak in 2011, where the forecast indicates a worldwide total demand of 279 million units.
JRIA also said that the Beijing Olympic games last August lead to a significant boom in the sales of Blu-ray discs in Japan, since the Japanese consumers have replaced their DVD recorders with new Blu-ray recorders. JRIA estimates that the situation will change by 2011, with the overseas demand for BD discs to exceed the domestic, as Blu-ray recorders will be widely available worldwide. Panasonic has already announced its plans to release its Blu-ray recording devices in the U.S. and Europe this year.
JRIA also believes that there will be an increase in the demand for Blu-ray discs for data recording on the PC in the following years. The Association estimates that the Blu-ray recordable discs will slowly start to replace the DVD recordable media for PC use after 2009.
| Demand for Blue laser discs (BD, HD DVD) Percentage shows comparison with previous year | ||||
2008 |
2009 (prediction) |
2010 (prediction) |
2011 (prediction) |
|
Japan |
16 million units (400%) |
43 million units (369%) |
87 million units (202%) |
132 million units (152%) |
Other regions |
4 million units (400%) |
21 million units (525%) |
65 million units (310%) |
167 million units (226%) |
Global |
20 million units (400%) |
64 million units (320%) |
152 million units (238%) |
279 million units (184%) |
JRIA also said that the Beijing Olympic games last August lead to a significant boom in the sales of Blu-ray discs in Japan, since the Japanese consumers have replaced their DVD recorders with new Blu-ray recorders. JRIA estimates that the situation will change by 2011, with the overseas demand for BD discs to exceed the domestic, as Blu-ray recorders will be widely available worldwide. Panasonic has already announced its plans to release its Blu-ray recording devices in the U.S. and Europe this year.
JRIA also believes that there will be an increase in the demand for Blu-ray discs for data recording on the PC in the following years. The Association estimates that the Blu-ray recordable discs will slowly start to replace the DVD recordable media for PC use after 2009.
| Demand for Recordable DVD discs Percentage shows comparison with previous year | ||||
2008 |
2009 (prediction) |
2010 (prediction) |
2011 (prediction) |
|
Japan |
949 million units (107%) |
977 million units (103%) |
952 million units (97%) |
908million units (95%) |
North America |
1893 million units (105%) |
1,926 million units (102%) |
1,870 million units (97%) |
1,786 million units (96%) |
| Europe | 2180 million units (105%) | 2,228 million units (102%) | 2,189 million units (98%) | 2,123 million units (97%) |
| Other regions | 815 million units (114%) | 878 million units (108%) | 910 million units (104%) | 905 million units (99%) |
Global |
5,837 million units (106%) |
6,009 million units (103%) |
5,921 million units (99%) |
5,722 million units (97%) |
