Although several leading global brands have already launched or will soon offer 18x DVD burners, CMC Magnetics and Ritek, Taiwan's top two makers of optical discs, currently produce 18x DVD+R/-R discs only in limited volumes.

Plextor, Lite-On IT, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Sony, NEC and BenQ currently offer 18x DVD burners while Pioneer and Asustek Computer will do so soon.

However, the global supply of 18x DVD+R/-R discs appear to be lagging. CMC and Ritek are able to immediately start volume production of 18x DVD+R/-R discs as long as the market demand is large enough, the two companies said.

However, because of relatively high prices, 18x DVD+R/-R discs will not become popular until 2007.