Amid evolving global supply dynamics and rising demand for data-centric infrastructure, the storage industry continues to navigate a phase of both opportunity and constraint. Pricing volatility, supply shortages, and the growing relevance of surveillance and AI-driven workloads are reshaping market strategies in India.
In this interaction, Rajeev Ranjan, Editor, Digital Terminal, speaks with Polad Garda, Country Manager – Storage Devices, Toshiba India, about business performance in 2025, partner priorities for the year ahead, supply-side challenges, and Toshiba’s roadmap for surveillance-focused storage solutions.
Rajeev: Please tell about your overall performance in year 2025.
Polad: From September onwards, we saw a significant price increase along with severe supply shortages. In fact, the shortage has been far more intense than initially anticipated. Globally, the supply situation remains challenging, and prices are expected to rise further. Overall, 2025 has been an eventful year with good business performance. However, the latter part of the year has been impacted by constrained supply, with limited quantities entering the market.
Rajeev: What would be your key message for partners as they plan for 2026, especially given the current supply scenario?
Polad: Stocks are limited, but staying invested in storage will not be a wrong decision. Many people believe the current situation is a temporary bubble, but unfortunately, it is not.
We foresee challenging times ahead as input costs continue to rise. This may also lead to delayed procurement decisions and a contraction in the overall market. From Toshiba’s side, we acknowledge that we have not been able to fully meet market demand, but we are making every effort to support our customers and maintain strong relationships.
Rajeev: A significant part of Toshiba’s success in India is attributed to its long-standing relationship with Rashi Peripherals. What message would you like to share for them?
Polad: Rashi Peripherals has been our distribution partner since 2009, and they have been a backbone of our operations in India. They consistently add value to our business. We face challenges together, discuss solutions together, and overcome those challenges as a team. That partnership has been instrumental in helping us navigate difficult market conditions.
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Rajeev: What new initiatives or developments can partners expect from Toshiba in the coming months?
Polad: The surveillance AI drives are the next big focus area for us. While the announcement has already been made, these products will be commercially available from January onwards. The new AI drive lineup will offer capacities ranging from 8TB to 24TB, addressing the growing needs of advanced surveillance and AI-driven workloads.
Rajeev: Toshiba has always been known for strong service support. How are you maintaining service quality for customers?
Polad: Given the limited availability of stock, our first step is to allocate inventory for RMA and contingency requirements before releasing products for sales. We carefully assess incoming stock over the next one to two months and make provisions accordingly. Ensuring uninterrupted service support is critical for us, even during challenging supply conditions.
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