Ritek CEO Gordon Yeh recently stated that 2005 is a milestone in the optical disc sector, as the DVD+R/-R segment is growing at a fast rate, while the CD-R market is gradually declining. In addition, Yeh said worldwide demand for DVD+R/-R discs will reach 4.2-4.5 billion units for 2005, and 5.5 billion units for 2006.

Yeh also stated that OEM quotes for DVD+R/-R blank discs will rise 10% in the third quarter of this year and his remarks echo previous forecasts made by CMC Magnetics chairman Robert Wong, who said OEM prices for DVD+R/-R would rise 10%.

Demand for DVD+R/-R DL discs this year is also expected to reach 30-50 million units, with the migration of DVD+R/-R from the current mainstream 4.7GB one-sided single-layer format to the 8.5GB one-sided dual-layer (DL) format expected to be completed in the near future, he added.

Ritek currently accounts for 80% of the DVD+R/-R DL market, Yeh claimed.