The global optical disc industry is experiencing a reshuffle which will continue into the first half of 2013 due to makers in Japan as Digitimes reports, 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.

Mainly due to growing demand for DVD discs in emerging markets, and for Blu-ray Disc (BD) 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%, Wong indicated.

As part of the reshuffle, some makers have, or will, cut prices to clear inventories and this will bring negative impact on CMC's operations in the fourth quarter of 2013, Wong said.