Currently, lead time for Ta capacitor shipments is longer than 36 weeks in general and as long as 40 weeks for large-size models. Yageo group that acquired Kemet in 2020 is hiking price of tantalum capacitors and planning to increase its production capacity according to DigiTimes, Taiwan article.
US-based Kemet will hike quotes for tantalum (Ta) capacitors, mainly MnO2 models, by 20-40% depending on specifications, according to industry sources.
Kemet is the world’s biggest producer of polymer Ta capacitors, while US-based AVX is the leader in MnO2 Ta capacitors, said the sources. In response to global shortages, AVX and US-based fellow maker Vishay Intertechnology have already hiked prices for Ta capacitors.
Yageo, which acquired Kemet in 2020, has recently notified its distributors in Greater China that Ta capacitor prices will increase to reflect rising costs from materials, labor and appreciation of the Taiwan currency, said the sources.
Yageo will expand production capacity mainly for polymer Ta capacitors at plants in Asia in 2021, while Kemet will do so at its facility in Mexico in 2022, the sources said, adding Yageo’s overall production capacity for Ta capacitors will increase 15-20%.