The supply of aluminum electrolytic capacitors has fallen short of demand by 15-20% since second-half 2020, resulting in extensions in delivery lead times at suppliers in Japan, Taiwan and China, according to industry sources.
Japanese makers Nippon Chemi-con, Nichicon, Rubycon and Panasonic have run at full capacity since fourth-quarter 2020, and their delivery lead times have prolonged to six months or even longer, the sources said.
Taiwan’s suppliers Lelon Electronics, Taiwan Chinsan Electronic, Kaimei Electronics and Apaq Technology, as well as China’s Aihua Group and Nantong Jianghai Capacitor have also seen their delivery lead times extend from four weeks to four months, with new orders received now unlikely to be fulfilled until June-July, the sources said.
The four Taiwanese makers all saw their December 2020 revenues grow sequentially, reversing the past sales pattern for the month as a result of unusually strong demand for aluminum electrolytic capacitors, both solid and liquid ones. Among them, Lelon and Kaimei both had 70-80% of employees stay for regular production during the Lunar New Year holidays to meet shipment schedules, the sources added.
Despite the worsening shortages of automotive chips, aluminum capacitor makers are still confident that shipment pull-in momentum from clients will not be affected, the sources noted.