Aluminum electrolytic capacitor suppliers in Taiwan and China are significantly ramping up their shipments to meet strong demand for 5G base station, automotive and work-from-home applications, according to industry sources.
Japan's four leading aluminum capacitor makers Nippon Chemi-Con, Nichicon, Rubycon and Panasonic have been running at full capacity utilization since fourth-quarter 2020 amid improving global car sales, with their delivery lead time extended to six months over even longer, in turn prompting clients to turn to suppliers in Taiwan and China, the sources said.
China's Aihua Group dedicated to high-voltage aluminum capacitors and Nantong Jianghai producing large-size capacitors, and Taiwan's leading maker Lelon Electronics also are all running their production lines at full capacity to fulfill abundant orders in hand, the sources said, adding that other peers including Apaq Technology, Kaimei Electronics and Taiwan Chinsan Electronic are also seeing clear order visibility for months ahead.
Among them, Taiwan Chinshan Electronic will maintain regular production of solid aluminum capacitors at its plant in Thailand during Lunar New Year, and will not rule out expanding capacity at the plant in 2021, the sources said.
Aluminum capacitor makers are facing increasing costs for upstream materials including aluminum foil, aluminum shell and guide pins, but it remains to be seen whether they will raise quotes to reflect the cost increases, the sources added.
