Tape still isn’t dead, but shipments slipped by 16 exabytes in 2025
LTO program is confident this is a glitch, not terminal unspooling
Tape storage has not lost its relevance, but it experienced a decline in shipments by 16 exabytes in 2025, according to the LTO Program, a collaboration between HPE, IBM, and Quantum Corp. The LTO Format accounts for 85% of all tape sales. The 2025 figure of 160.3 exabytes of LTO tape shipped marked a 9% decrease from 2024's record-high 176.5 exabytes.
Analyst Tom Coughlin attributed the reduction to the evolving international trade environment and more cautious purchasing behavior by businesses. Despite the decline, Coughlin remains optimistic, predicting that if uncertainties are resolved, the tape storage market will continue to show strength, especially considering the power efficiency of tape storage.
The LTO Program highlighted the promising start to 2026, with Q1 shipments being 57% higher than the previous year. This optimistic outlook is further fueled by the introduction of a new 40TB tape cartridge compatible with 30TB cartridges, which can help address the high power consumption of tape storage. However, the long restore and retrieval times associated with tape storage and the limited production of LTO cartridges by Sony and Fujifilm remain challenges for wider adoption.
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