Contract manufacturing prices for 4x recordable DVD+RW drives have declined by 9-10% since the beginning of the fourth quarter after declining 30-40% over the previous two quarters, according to DigiTimes.

Taiwanese makers are now quoting 4x DVD+RW drives at below US$100, compared with US$100-110 in the third quarter and US$130-150 in the second quarter, the sources said.

The retail prices for 4x DVD+RW drives have also dropped drastically in the local market, to below NT$3,000 (about US$88) in November from around NT$6,900-7,500 (US$202-220) at the beginning of the second half.

The falling prices were widely expected as DVD-Dual drives have become mainstream and as many Taiwanese companies began delivering the more advanced 8x DVD+RW drives, said the sources.

The world’s leading makers, including Sony, NEC, Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) and Pioneer, are now focusing on production of DVD-Dual drives, said the sources.

Japan-based Pioneer, formerly focused on DVD+RW drives, has decided to shift the bulk of its production to DVD-Dual models following the completion of the second phase of an expansion project at its plant in Dongguan, Guangdong Province (China) this month, according to the sources.