Murata MLCC Price Increase Imminent
2026-04-13
The world's largest multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) supplier, Murata Manufacturing, is expected to announce its MLCC pricing strategy on April 30 at its earnings release conference. This marks Murata's first large-scale price adjustment assessment in nearly three years, potentially signaling the passive components market's entry into a new upward price cycle.
Demand Surge
The core drivers behind this price increase are the dual demand explosion from AI servers and new energy vehicles. Data shows that MLCC inquiries from the AI server sector have reached twice Murata's production capacity, with production line utilization rates hitting 95%. Taking NVIDIA's GB300 platform as an example, a single unit requires approximately 30,000 MLCCs, while one AI server cabinet consumes up to 440,000 units—thirty times the amount used in ordinary smartphones. Murata President Norio Nakajima stated that AI investment will continue to grow strongly over the next 3 to 5 years, with next-generation AI chips driving demand for high-end MLCCs to increase by more than tenfold.
In the automotive electronics sector, electric vehicles use 9,000 to 16,000 MLCCs per vehicle, representing a substantial increase compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. As semiconductor performance continues to improve, MLCC installation volumes keep climbing, with demand for high-reliability automotive-grade products surging in tandem.
Supply Constraints
Delivery lead times for high-capacity, high-voltage MLCCs used in AI servers and premium automotive-grade products are significantly extending, with certain models already showing signs of supply shortages. Lead times have stretched from the typical 4 weeks to 20 weeks, with some scarce models experiencing stock-out situations. Expansion of high-end MLCC capacity faces multiple constraints including equipment import restrictions and lengthy factory construction cycles—Murata's new high-end facility is not expected to be completed until the end of 2026, with output unlikely before Q4 2026 at the earliest. President Nakajima frankly admitted that high-end MLCC capacity cannot be rapidly expanded, and the supply tightness may persist through this year and next.Silver Price Surge and Raw Material Cost Increases
Rising raw material costs are a significant catalyst for this price adjustment. Murata noted that silver is widely used in solar panels, electric vehicles, semiconductors, AI equipment, and medical devices. With demand continuing to climb while production struggles to ramp up quickly, the rapid rise in silver prices has exceeded what companies can absorb through their own cost-cutting measures.
Industry-Wide Price Increase Trend
While prices for some passive components such as inductors and ferrites have already been adjusted upward, MLCC prices had remained relatively stable. In March this year, Murata formally proposed price increases, launching a comprehensive 15%-35% price hike for AI server and premium automotive-grade MLCC products, with the new pricing structure taking effect on April 1.
Competitors including Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Yageo, and Walsin Technology are also monitoring market reactions and stand ready to follow suit. Spot market MLCC prices have already jumped 15%-20%, reinforcing expectations of further upward price momentum.
SEMICONE IC Chips Distributor
SEMICONE is a distributor of semiconductor components, specializing in the fields of industrial control, telecommunications, and consumer electronics. It offers end-to-end supply chain solutions from chip procurement to technical support, covering all categories of IC products such as MCUs, power management, and communication interfaces. Recommended popular IC models by Semicone:
● 88E1512PB2-NNP2I000: Marvell Gigabit Ethernet PHY transceiver, suitable for industrial-grade network communication devices.
● DESD1CAN2SOQ-7: Diodes automotive-grade CAN bus ESD protection device, providing high reliability electrostatic protection for automotive electronics.
● STM32F722RET6: ST high-performance ARM Cortex-M7 MCU, meeting the requirements of complex real-time control applications.
● OPA2317QDGKRQ1: TI automotive-grade precision operational amplifier, suitable for automotive sensor signal conditioning systems.
● ADM4852ARZ-REEL7: ADI high-speed RS-485/RS-422 transceiver, suitable for data transmission in harsh industrial environments.
Email: info@semicone.com
TCL Considers Selling Stake in India TV Business
Major Shifts in GaN Landscape Following TSMC Exit
Related Article
Solidigm seeks a $45B US NAND fab but ties it to approval for Dalian equipment upgrades, as export controls and a paused IPO constrain funding.
Talks on $45 Billion Investment: A Potential New US NAND Plant
Bosch splits its Mobility business into four independent units, transferring 62,500 staff. It stays wholly owned, not listed or sold.
Bosch Separates Mobility Business, Transfers 62,500 Employees
