Since global demand for 50GB single-sided double-layer Blu-ray Disc (BD) discs will grow significantly and Japan-based makers including Sony, Panasonic and TDK are expected to not expand their production capacities due to appreciation of yen, CMC Magnetics and Ritek, the largest Taiwan-based makers of blank optical discs, are expected to expand their production capacities in 2011, according to industry sources.

According to a forecast by the Japan Recording-Media Industries Association, global demand for 50GB DL BD discs will increase to more than 33 million units in 2011, equivalent to a monthly average of 2.75 million discs, the sources indicated. CMC and Ritek just started volume production of such discs in small monthly volumes of 150,000-200,000 discs each, and therefore there is large room for capacity expansion, the sources pointed out.