A shortage of hard disk drives (HDD) caused by the recent flooding in Thailand is expected to cut global PC shipments by about 4 million units in the fourth quarter, with desktop shipments experiencing the most severe blow, a researcher said.
Desktop PCs are expected to account for 80 percent of the reduced shipments, -DRAMeXchange, a research arm of TrendForce Corp (集邦科技), said in a report last week.
That means desktop shipments would plunge by 15 percent in the fourth quarter, instead of its earlier forecast of just 5 percent, the Taipei-based researcher said.
The shortage of HDDs for notebooks started in the middle of last month — right after the traditional peak month of October — leading to a likely shipment decline of 3.7 percent for the fourth quarter, the researcher said, slightly up from its earlier forecast of a 3.4 percent drop.
Thailand produces about one-third of global HDDs and main players, such as Western Digital Corp, Toshiba Corp, Hitachi Ltd and Seagate Technology PLC, had their facilities impacted by the floods.
Asustek Computer Inc (華碩電腦), the world’s No. 5 PC brand, has said it expects the HDD shortage to become more serious in the first quarter of next year. It said supplies have been secured for the current quarter and therefore the impact so far has been minimal.
According to DRAMeXchange, overall notebook HDD supply and demand may return to normal in the first quarter next year at the earliest, while desktop hard drives would only start seeing relief from the second quarter.
This is because HDD makers in other countries, including China, the Philippines and Malaysia, have ramped up capacity to make up for lower output in Thailand.
However, US-based consultancy and research firm IHS iSuppli predicted earlier this month that there could be an excess of HDDs next year when Thailand’s facilities are operating at full capacity.
“Ironically, the HDD market could face an inventory surplus by the end of 2012 after facilities in Thailand return to full production. When combined with the added production outside the country, the recovery in Thailand’s HDD operations could result in excess supply,” it said.
IHS predicted that worldwide PC shipments in the first quarter of next year would amount to 84.2 million units, down 11.6 percent from 95.3 million units in the fourth quarter of this year.
NOT JUSTIFIED: The bank’s governor said there would only be a rate cut if inflation falls below 1.5% and economic conditions deteriorate, which have not been detected The central bank yesterday kept its key interest rates unchanged for a fifth consecutive quarter, aligning with market expectations, while slightly lowering its inflation outlook amid signs of cooling price pressures. The move came after the US Federal Reserve held rates steady overnight, despite pressure from US President Donald Trump to cut borrowing costs. Central bank board members unanimously voted to maintain the discount rate at 2 percent, the secured loan rate at 2.375 percent and the overnight lending rate at 4.25 percent. “We consider the policy decision appropriate, although it suggests tightening leaning after factoring in slackening inflation and stable GDP growth,”
DIVIDED VIEWS: Although the Fed agreed on holding rates steady, some officials see no rate cuts for this year, while 10 policymakers foresee two or more cuts There are a lot of unknowns about the outlook for the economy and interest rates, but US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled at least one thing seems certain: Higher prices are coming. Fed policymakers voted unanimously to hold interest rates steady at a range of 4.25 percent to 4.50 percent for a fourth straight meeting on Wednesday, as they await clarity on whether tariffs would leave a one-time or more lasting mark on inflation. Powell said it is still unclear how much of the bill would fall on the shoulders of consumers, but he expects to learn more about tariffs
Greek tourism student Katerina quit within a month of starting work at a five-star hotel in Halkidiki, one of the country’s top destinations, because she said conditions were so dire. Beyond the bad pay, the 22-year-old said that her working and living conditions were “miserable and unacceptable.” Millions holiday in Greece every year, but its vital tourism industry is finding it harder and harder to recruit Greeks to look after them. “I was asked to work in any department of the hotel where there was a need, from service to cleaning,” said Katerina, a tourism and marketing student, who would
i Gasoline and diesel prices at fuel stations are this week to rise NT$0.1 per liter, as tensions in the Middle East pushed crude oil prices higher last week, CPC Corp, Taiwan (台灣中油) and Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化) said yesterday. International crude oil prices last week rose for the third consecutive week due to an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, as the market is concerned that the situation in the Middle East might affect crude oil supply, CPC and Formosa said in separate statements. Front-month Brent crude oil futures — the international oil benchmark — rose 3.75 percent to settle at US$77.01
RSS