Global sales of recordable MiniDiscs are expected to total 144 million units in 2005, down 25 percent from the previous year, due to the widespread use of portable digital music players, an industry association said Friday.

Demand for recordable MDs is rapidly weakening as consumers turn to digital players, including Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod, to store music, the Japan Recording-Media Industries Association said.

Global sales of MDs are likely to slide an additional 26 percent in 2006 to 107 million units, the association added.

The Japanese market accounts for more than 80 percent of all MDs sold worldwide.