MLCC (Multi-layer Ceramic Capacitors) is a chip multilayer ceramic capacitor that not only has many applications in consumer electronics but also has a wide range of applications in security, industrial, automotive electronics and Internet of Things. Since this year, Murata , Taiyo Yuden and other Japanese manufacturers, Giant, Huaxin Branch and other Chinese manufacturers in Taiwan and Yu Yang Technology, Fenghua Hi-Tech and other original MLCC products generally unbalanced supply and demand, the price soared, and the downstream terminal manufacturers such as mobile phones is still very difficult to get goods.
'MLCC out of stock the status quo will continue, is expected to 2018 end of the shortage will be the basic relief.' 'Shenzhen Yang Technology Development Co., Ltd. Deputy General Manager Li Jing, general manager of Marketing Center, said in an interview with micro-network interview, Since the beginning of this year, the bulk price of capacitors has risen sharply. The price of MLCC has risen sharply. Some single MLCC models have risen from a few cents to 3.5 yuan, much higher than expected. Now the price of this MLCC has risen to the level of chips From the appearance point of view, MLCC price increase is caused by the imbalance between supply and demand side, in fact, a deeper reason is due to the stage factors of industrial development caused.
MLCC out of stock from large size to small size penetration, small size will be out of stock new main force
This year, MLCC original price adjustment on many occasions, the overall increase of 5-30%. 'This round of MLCC prices mainly from two dimensions, out of stock MLCC products have infiltrated from large size to small size. Li Jing said that from different dimensions, the MLCC product size, the most lacking is the large size MLCC products, the larger the size of the more likely to lack, it is because we do the product from big to small. Goods, the most obvious is the lack of large size more serious, of course, small size MLCC now also began to out of stock, but the large size is the beginning, but also the most out of stock.
'From the specifications, the capacitor capacity, before the market is the use of the largest specification, according to habits, but also the most easy to do big market share to do low prices, then this part of the MLCC is the most lacking, the price is also Low. "Li Jing said that now MLCC large capacity particularly lacking in the past because there is not much profit, the original factory generally do not want to expand, but the amount is very large, whether it is computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment are needed A large number of MLCC, is also the least profitable, so very lacking.
This means that the MLCC begins to shift from large-size out-of-stock to miniaturized MLCCs, and the bulk of the capacitors are generally out of stock. The miniaturized MLCC will become the new mainstay now and out of stock in 2018. The miniaturized MLCCs are mainly used in mobile terminals Market, the current global mini MLCC manufacturers for the first three Murata, Samsung Motor, Yu Yang.
(Note: G represents Giant, W represents Walsin, E represents Yuyang, M represents Murata, and S represents Samsung. It can be seen that Yuyang is the second largest in the world after Murata .)
'Murata is the industry leader in the miniaturized MLCC market with Samsung and Yuyang having the second or third rounds of fluctuations.' Li Jing said the current Murata Murata miniaturization capacity of about 20 (Billion / month), Samsung's production capacity at 10-12 (Billion / month), and Yu Yang this year in the mini MLCC market surpassed Samsung Electric, production capacity of 14 (Billion / month).
Now a medium-sized smart phone needs 700 small MLCC, iPhone8 need more than 1000. At present, Yuyang mini MLCC market size 0201, 01005 small size MLCC, and has entered the OPPO, VIVO, millet and other domestic first-line mobile phone supply Chain, mobile phone market accounted for more than 6 percent of the overall business of Yu Yang, Yu Yang revenue this year is expected to increase by about 40% over last year, or even more.
Collective expansion, MLCC shortage tide ease by the end of 2018
MLCC out of stock prices so that the original pot pours, on the one hand the original factory is accelerating production expansion to build new production lines to add capacity; the other hand, aimed at MLCC out of stock the largest increase in NPO, then this round of shortage out tide Hope to ease?
Li Jing said that this year, the situation of the capacitor out of stock is even the beginning of the lack of ordinary capacitors, wave out of stock, the normal out of stock to ease the capacitor for now, the basic needs of a year to ease the supply. That is to say The bulk of common capacitors will start to ease by the end of 2018.
And based on this judgment is mainly because now the capacitors are price increases, the substantial increase in price and profits, both for the original and the capital side, are willing to add additional capital lines, the capacitor industry from investment to expansion is probably a year's time It is up, so in theory by the end of 2018 will ease.
Currently MLCC announced plans to expand production, including Murata, Taiyo Yuden, Giant giant, Yu Yang, Fenghua Hi-Tech, etc. Among them, Murata will invest 10 billion yen (about 600 million yuan) to build a new MLCC line, plant It is expected to be set up at Seto in Okayama Prefecture, Japan and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018 in response to the current market demand for MLCCs. Giant has also announced a 10% -15% expansion of MLCCs, The first half of next year, the official mass production.
According to Li Jing introduction, Yu Yang, of course, expansion plans, our expansion is mainly focused on the mini-0201 and the following size models, such expansion companies have more than 30% of the plan each year, while the continued shortage of stock The market expansion this year, at least 30% or more, at the same time as this year's situation is rather special, Yuyang internal is also finalized the second round, the third round of expansion plans.
NPO tight supply is not in the supply of relief, Yu Yang has sent samples
However, this expansion is only limited to a large number of capacitors to ease the expansion, and this year MLCC the largest increase in the NPO this material is also difficult to quickly alleviate the short time. NPO single material cost price from the beginning of this year 2 cents to the third quarter of this year Has risen to 2.5 yuan, by the end of the cost of the price has risen to 3.5 yuan, or far more than expected, now the price of this MLCC has risen to the price of the chip.
Li Jing said with a smile, MLCC chips sold, of course, our original factory is very happy.However, NPO and other special MLCC expansion in the large uncertainties, because there are bottlenecks in the first technology, the current number of original factory Can expand, or more expansion, but also rely on the end-market applications will be explosive growth, including all aspects of the factors.
In fact, NPO this material prices soaring, out of stock is very serious, due to this year Apple released iPhone X and other new standard wireless charging caused by Li Jing said NPO this material and other MLCC different MLCC itself so many years market Is there, and slowly come to the eruption this year, but NPO this material out of stock prices mainly due to the outbreak of wireless charging.
First of all, as a whole, due to the wireless charging in the second half of the terminal market driven by the explosive growth of Apple, which unlike the MLCC in other electronic devices, application requirements in recent years there has been a certain base, but the wireless Fill point suddenly the market soared, iPhone X and other new standard wireless charging concept is the most critical background.
Secondly, on the back of the NPO material, wireless charging not only use the NPO material, but also use a lot of ordinary capacitors, but the NPO material is the highest level of technology is the highest, the material itself can do is Only Murata, Taiyo Yuden and TDK and other Japanese original business can do, other original manufacturers technology and production there are still distances, which led to the entire market supply and demand is not balanced.
More importantly, there are basically no substitutes for the NPO material, and NPO has exceptionally high ultimate capacity in terms of material properties, technically a high industry standard, so no substitutes exist. , NPO this material has been proofing Yuyang, and immediately mass production.Li Jing said NPO this material we also attach great importance to the first half of 2018 will be the bulk of the market to provide NPO, which in the domestic market Yu Yang Is the first mass production NPO.
Frankly speaking, before this, Yu Yang does not have such NPO end customers, since the second half of this year, NPO this material in the wireless charging led, out of stock prices hit record highs, the main production is the original factory Murata and Murata In addition to wireless charging applications, there is also a demand for NPO in the partial industrial markets, so Murata has been doing this with the technology and customer base, but this year the wireless charge broke out Quotes, completely in short supply.
The same is not the same Yu Yang, Yu Yang Although the domestic market has become a miniaturization of the capacitor, but no such customers, there is no such application requirements, in terms of Yu Yang is completely new demand, but good We have the technical reserves, from feeding, process fine-tuning, a sample, will soon be able to achieve, the current NPO Yuyang has been sent to customers sample.
Li Jing said that Yu Yang is mainly engaged in miniature and RF capacitors. In NPO this system is also the focus of our development because more than 50% of the miniaturized proportion is made of NPO material, so we are more specialized in miniature and RF two areas, come back, Yu Yang's technical reserve allows us to make NPO finished products within three months, to give proof of verification can give, wireless charging market will become the focus of Yu Yang areas .