Top MLCC Manufacturers in the World
The rise of AI further escalates demand for high-capacity MLCCs. Who are the industry leaders? Japanese giants like Murata and TDK lead, followed by South Korean and Taiwanese contenders. Join us as we delve into the world of MLCCs, uncovering applications, trends, and top MLCC manufacturers.
MLCC, short for Multi-layer Ceramic Capacitor, it possesses several advantages such as excellent high-frequency characteristics, a wide range of capacitance values, high stability, small size, and non-polarity. It is one of the most widely used passive components, and finds extensive applications in consumer electronics, 5G communication, industrial control, automotive electronics, aerospace, and defense sectors.
According to statistics from a certain institution based on data from 2021-2022, capacitors account for approximately 49% of the passive component market share, with ceramic capacitors occupying 56% of the capacitor market, and MLCCs accounting for 93% of the ceramic capacitor market share. Based on this estimation, MLCCs constitute around one-fourth of the passive component market.
Applications and Trends of MLCC
The downstream markets of MLCC mainly include consumer electronics such as smartphones and computers, as well as industrial markets like automotive, rail transit, and medical sectors. Among them, industrial markets such as automotive have a greater demand for high-end MLCCs.
In smartphones, the typical usage of MLCCs per unit is around 1200-1500 pieces; in laptops, it's approximately 1000 pieces; in AI servers, the usage can reach 3000-4000 pieces; furthermore, in electric vehicles, the usage can exceed 15,000 pieces. With the proliferation of AI, there will be more incorporation of AI functionalities across various terminals like smartphones, PCs, and servers, leading to an increasing demand for MLCCs, especially high-temperature and high-capacitance MLCCs. The global AI industry is accelerating its development, with large models continuously iterating and the demand for computing power remaining consistently high, driving the continuous growth of AI server sales. It is reported that the consumption of MLCC passive components by AI servers has significantly increased, and most of them are special specifications with large capacity and high voltage. Compared to general servers, the usage is about twice as much, with a total capacity reaching 2-3 times and a total amount increasing by 4-6 times.
Against the backdrop of the continuous advancement in new energy vehicles and the electrification of automobiles, MLCCs have been rapidly applied in various modules of automotive intelligent cockpits, intelligent driving, and the three-electric systems. According to forecasts by the China Electronic Components Industry Association, global MLCC sales are expected to reach 6.05 trillion pieces by 2025, with corresponding sales revenue reaching 149 billion yuan. Among them, automotive-grade MLCC demand could reach 473 billion pieces by 2025, becoming the fastest-growing segment market among all MLCC industries.
Top MLCC Manufacturers
The major MLCC manufacturers globally are primarily concentrated in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan (China), and mainland China. Japanese companies hold a dominant market share of 56%, significantly ahead, while mainland Chinese MLCC manufacturers account for approximately 7% of the global total. Global MLCC manufacturers can be categorized into three tiers:
The first tier is represented by Japanese companies such as Murata, Taiyo Yuden, and TDK. Japanese companies excel in high-end automotive-grade and industrial-grade MLCCs, boasting strong technological capabilities and production scale.
The second tier comprises South Korean and Taiwanese companies represented by Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Yageo, and Walsin Technology. Although these companies have larger MLCC production capacities, there still exists a certain technological gap compared to Japanese counterparts.
The third tier consists of domestic manufacturers represented by Fenghua Advanced Technology, Sanhuan Group, and Shenzhen Yuyang. These companies have technological and scale gaps compared to the first and second tiers, focusing mainly on mid-to-low-end MLCCs.
Notable Manufacturers:
Ranking | Company |
1 | Murata |
2 | Taiyo Yuden |
3 | TDK |
4 | Samsung Electro-Mechanics |
5 | Yageo |
6 | Walsin |
7 | Chaozhou Three-Circle |
8 | Fenghua Advanced Technology |
9 | Shenzhen Yuyang |
1. Murata: A global comprehensive electronic components manufacturer, particularly renowned for its ceramic capacitors, including MLCCs. Murata ceramic capacitors hold the top position globally. Learn more at https://www.murata.com/.
2. Taiyo Yuden: Primarily engaged in the research, production, and sales of ceramic capacitors, inductors, wireless communication modules, and magnetic components, including MLCCs. Taiyo Yuden holds the second-largest market share in the ceramic capacitor field. Learn more at https://www.yuden.co.jp/or/.
3. TDK: A globally renowned manufacturer of electronic components and materials, involved in the research, production, and sales of capacitors, inductors, magnetic materials, sensors, wireless communication modules, and power modules, including MLCCs. Learn more at https://www.tdk.com/en/index.html.
4. Samsung Electro-Mechanics: A leading global electronic components manufacturer, specializing in the research, production, and sales of wireless communication modules, capacitors, inductors, high-frequency devices, and LED devices, including MLCCs. Learn more at https://www.samsungsem.com/.
5. Yageo: A globally positioned electronic component supplier with a comprehensive product portfolio, including resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, relays, antennas, wireless components, and circuit protection components. Yageo is currently the world's largest chip resistor and tantalum capacitor manufacturer, and the third-largest MLCC and inductor manufacturer. Learn more at https://www.yageo.com/en/Home.
6. Walsin: The world's leading manufacturer of passive components, offering a wide range of products including MLCCs, chip resistors, arrays, networks, inductors, RF filters, disc capacitors, varistors, chip fuses, and antennas. Learn more at https://www.passivecomponent.com/.
7. Chaozhou Three-Circle: Engaged in the research, production, and sales of electronic components and basic materials. Its main products include various ceramic components and electronic components for various devices, including MLCCs. Learn more at https://www.cctc.cc/index_en.html.
8. Fenghua Advanced Technology: Mainly engaged in the research, production, and sales of electronic components and materials. Its main products are a series of electronic components, including resistors, inductors, filters, semiconductor devices, thick-film integrated circuits, capacitors, integrated circuit packaging, and flexible printed circuit boards, including MLCCs. Learn more at https://www.fhcomp.com/en/.
9. Shenzhen Yuyang: Mainly involved in the research, production, and sales of MLCC products. Learn more at: https://www.szeyang.com/en/Index.aspx.
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Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information and reference purposes only. The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the author of this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of Cytech Systems or official policies of Cytech Systems.