[News] MLCC Lead Times Diverge as High-End Products Stretch to 5–10 Months; Tightness May Extend Into 2027

AI-driven demand is tightening the MLCC market, with supply conditions increasingly diverging between standard and high-end products. According to ETNews, lead times for standard-case MLCCs remain relatively stable at 14–18 weeks, or about 3.5–4.5 months, while high-capacitance and high-voltage products stand at around 15–20 weeks, or roughly 4–5 months. Lead-time data from electronic components distributor DigiKey point to even longer waits for certain products, with some Samsung Electro-Mechanics high-capacitance MLCCs reaching around 40 weeks, or nearly 10 months.

As noted by Donghaeng Ilbo, securities reports show that as of mid-August, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Murata, and Yageo had no inventory of certain high-capacitance MLCCs for servers and high-performance IT power supplies. Restocking is expected in November 2026 for Samsung Electro-Mechanics and December for Yageo, while one Murata product may not be replenished until January 2027. Against this backdrop, ETNews notes that new capacity originally expected in 4Q26 has been pushed into 2027, with lead times of five to 10 months or longer for high-specification products expected to persist.

Unlike previous cycles, when passive-component lead times typically moved with broader market conditions, the widening gap is seen as a structural shift in demand driven by AI rather than a temporary surge. ETNews also notes that extended lead times point to stronger pricing power and improving profitability as the product mix shifts toward higher-value offerings.

The tightening supply environment is already driving broader price hikes. According to Donghaeng Ilbo, Samsung Electro-Mechanics notified its Chinese sales subsidiary of a 30% price increase for shipments starting August 1. Taiyo Yuden, meanwhile, announced another price hike effective September 1 following an increase in May.

AI Server Demand Drives MLCC Deals and Pricing Power

Demand visibility is also extending into 2027. Samsung Electro-Mechanics has secured two major AI server MLCC supply contracts worth a combined roughly KRW 745 billion. According to NewsPim, the company signed deals worth roughly KRW 450 billion and KRW 295.12 billion with global customers, with both contracts covering supply throughout 2027. Beyond these major contracts, Samsung Electro-Mechanics is also expanding its broader long-term supply arrangements. According to The Elec, the company has expanded long-term agreements (LTAs) for AI server MLCCs to about 10 global customers.

Chinese suppliers are also benefiting from the tightening market. As noted by Caiwen, Fenghua Advanced Technology said in July that MLCC orders remain robust and capacity utilization remains high, with high-end products accounting for around 35%–40% of MLCC revenue. According to Stockstar, Fenghua has implemented two price adjustments this year, lifting prices by around 20% from the beginning of the year.

According to TrendForce, robust AI demand pushed June 2026 shipments from the top three Japanese and Korean suppliers—Murata, Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO), and Taiyo Yuden—to a five-year monthly high. Meanwhile, the continued spillover of consumer-grade MLCC orders is benefiting distributors and suppliers in Taiwan and China, driving up quotes.

Read more

• AI Demand Pushes Japanese and Korean MLCC Suppliers to Record Monthly Shipments; Consumer-Grade Order Spillovers Continue to Surge, Says TrendForce
• [News] Samsung Electro-Mechanics Lifts MLCC Prices 30% Starting Aug. 1; Taiyo Yuden Reportedly Eyes Sept. 1 Hike

(Photo credit: Samsung Electro-Mechanics)