Lead times for high-end multilayer ceramic capacitors are stretching toward ten months, as AI server demand drains inventory and splits the passive-components market into haves and have-nots.
Standard-case MLCCs still ship in 14 to 18 weeks, but high-capacitance and high-voltage parts used in servers and IT power supplies now take roughly 15 to 20 weeks, according to ETNews, while DigiTimes pegs the top-end wait at about 40 weeks. As of mid-August, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Murata and Yageo had no stock of certain high-capacitance MLCCs, with resupply expected in November for Samsung Electro-Mechanics, December for Yageo and as late as January 2027 for one Murata part.
Unlike earlier cycles, the tightness looks structural rather than temporary, and pricing power is following. Samsung Electro-Mechanics notified its Chinese sales arm of a 30 percent increase effective August 1, and Taiyo Yuden plans another hike on September 1. Two AI server supply deals, worth about KRW 745B together, now lock in Samsung Electro-Mechanics deliveries through 2027.
Chinese suppliers are riding the wave: Fenghua Advanced Technology raised prices about 20 percent this year, with high-end products now 35 to 40 percent of its MLCC revenue. June shipments from Murata, Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Taiyo Yuden hit a five-year monthly high.
