MLCC Price Increase 2026: Supplier Timeline & Impact

Short answer: Major MLCC makers have raised prices in several waves since April 2026. Murata moved first on April 1, reportedly by 15-35% on AI-server and high-end automotive parts. Taiyo Yuden raised prices in the spring and again from September 1, Yageo followed on July 1, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO) applied a 30% increase across its MLCC portfolio from August 1. Spot prices have moved faster than list prices. For buyers, the practical effects are higher BOM cost on capacitor-heavy boards, shorter quote validity, and a stronger need to check price and availability before releasing an order.

MLCC price increases by supplier in 2026

Supplier	Timing	Reported change	Scope
Murata	April 1, 2026	15-35%	AI-server and high-end automotive MLCCs; reported as its first broad increase in about three years
Taiyo Yuden	Spring 2026	10-30% on high-capacitance automotive and server-grade parts; 6-13% on consumer-grade parts	Interim price adjustment
Yageo	July 1, 2026	Described as its broadest capacitor increase in years; some industry reports cite about 50%	Capacitor portfolio including MLCCs; reportedly the first MLCC increase applied to direct customers
Samsung Electro-Mechanics	August 1, 2026	30%	Entire MLCC portfolio
Taiyo Yuden (second adjustment)	September 1, 2026	New shipment prices; magnitude not stated in the sources reviewed	Company cited higher costs of barium titanate powder, nickel powder and rare-earth additives
Samsung Electro-Mechanics (expected)	Q4 2026	TrendForce estimates roughly 25-30% on consumer-grade X5R and 10-20% on high-end X6S; not confirmed by the company	Extension of increases to direct OEM and ODM customers, not only distributors

Walsin Technology also announced increases in June and July, according to industry reporting. Manufacturer price notices usually go directly to customers and are not published, so these figures come from TrendForce and industry press. Treat them as reported ranges and confirm current pricing with your supplier.

List price vs spot price: which number are you seeing?

List-price increases announced by manufacturers and spot-market prices are different things, and they have moved at different speeds. TrendForce, citing Chinese media, reported that spot prices for MLCCs rose roughly 15-20% from late February, and that quotes on popular parts were being updated as often as every 30 minutes by late June. Other industry reporting puts the increase on high-capacitance AI-server grades at 50-60%, with some scarce specifications reported at double earlier levels.

This gap matters for quotes. A distributor that bought stock early may still sell below the spot market, while a part that has to be sourced new can arrive at a very different price. By late July, TrendForce said inventories of mainstream MLCCs were below 30 days, which leaves less cushion between a price notice and the next order.

Why MLCC prices are rising

• Capacity is moving to higher-value parts. AI servers use many times more MLCCs than conventional servers, and suppliers have reallocated production toward AI-grade products. TrendForce reads the larger increase on consumer-grade X5R as a way to manage capacity while shifting output to higher-margin grades.
• Input costs have risen. Taiyo Yuden cited barium titanate powder, nickel powder and rare-earth additives when announcing its September adjustment.
• Supply cannot respond quickly. New high-end capacity is reported to take 12-24 months to come online. For the supply side of the story, see our guide to MLCC lead times and passive component shortage.

Which capacitors are rising the most

Group	What the reporting shows
High-capacitance AI-server grades (for example 1206/1210 parts at tens of microfarads)	Largest increases: 15-35% list increases at Murata and reported spot increases of 50-60% or more
Automotive and high-reliability grades	10-30% at Taiyo Yuden in spring; also among the longest lead times
Consumer-grade medium and high capacitance	30% list increase at SEMCO from August 1; TrendForce expects some of these to rise a further 10-20% in Q4 as spillover orders lift factory utilization

Other capacitor families are not a safe exit

Industry reports say Yageo's July 1 increase covered several capacitor families, including aluminum electrolytic, tantalum, polymer and film. Tantalum also has its own supply constraints. If you are considering a switch for technical reasons, our tantalum vs MLCC comparison covers the performance trade-offs, but a different capacitor type is not a reliable way to avoid price increases.

Why your BOM or PCBA quote went up

If a quote rose and your design did not change, one or more of these is usually responsible:

• Line-item prices moved. The change in BOM cost is the sum, across every MLCC line, of quantity multiplied by the change in unit price. A board with many high-capacitance or automotive-grade MLCCs is exposed far more than one that uses mostly small standard values.
• A line moved from stock to a new source. If the original part is no longer available at the quoted price, the replacement may come from the spot market or an alternate part.
• The earlier quote expired. In a rising market, price validity windows tend to shorten.
• The bare board also costs more. Copper foil, glass cloth and laminate shortages are raising PCB prices and lead times separately from components. See the PCB raw material shortage timeline and why PCB lead times and prices are rising in 2026 for the causes, and PCB laminate price hike 2026: impact on your PCB quote and why your PCB quote went up for how it reaches a quote.

There is no single percentage that converts an MLCC price increase into a PCBA price increase, because total cost also includes the bare board, assembly, testing and logistics. A useful quote states the exact manufacturer part number, the source (authorized channel or open market), the quantity, the date code if relevant, and how long the price is valid.

Will MLCC prices come down?

Based on current reporting, not quickly. High-end capacity takes 12-24 months to add, and TrendForce has said tightness in high-end products may extend into 2027. TrendForce also reported that customers are moving from quarterly quotes to long-term agreements that lock in volume and price, which leaves less supply for buyers outside those agreements.

The main downside risk to prices is weaker consumer demand. TrendForce has pointed to inventory corrections in PCs and notebooks, geopolitical uncertainty and monetary policy as factors that could soften consumer-grade MLCC pricing. The key signal to watch for the next stage is whether Murata, Taiyo Yuden and Kyocera follow SEMCO on direct OEM and ODM pricing in Q4.

Keeping cost under control while prices move

• Re-cost more often. While prices are moving, quarterly BOM reviews can be too slow. Re-check capacitor-heavy and highest-value lines more frequently, and ask for price validity in writing.
• Look for over-specification. Tighter tolerance, higher voltage rating, C0G where X7R would work, or automotive grade where it is not required all narrow the supplier pool and raise price. Our X7R vs C0G vs X5R guide explains the trade-offs. Do not downgrade a spec without checking the part's DC-bias curve and voltage rating.
• Evaluate alternates for both price and risk. A cheaper substitute is only useful if it passes the same electrical and mechanical checks. See our MLCC alternatives guide for dielectric differences, DC bias and cross-reference tips, and our decoupling capacitor placement guide if a value or case-size change affects your power delivery network.
• Be careful with spot purchases. Shortages increase the circulation of counterfeit and mislabeled parts. Confirm the exact part number, the seller, the date code and traceability before paying a premium.
• Commit earlier on core lines. Large buyers are locking volume and price through long-term agreements. Smaller buyers can apply the same logic by confirming quantities for critical parts as soon as the build schedule is firm.

NextPCB's BOM service cross-references submitted part numbers against live marketplace stock and flags lead-time risk and possible alternates at the quoting stage. You can also request a PCB assembly quote to review component options for your next build.

Related reading

• Passive Component Shortage 2026: MLCC Lead Times, Supply Chain Risk and Design Mitigation
• Shortage of Electronic Components in 2026: Causes and Sourcing Strategies
• MLCC Alternatives 2026: X7R vs X5R, DC Bias and Cross-Reference Guide
• What Is an MLCC? Types, Dielectrics and PCB Selection Guide
• Why AI Servers Are Driving Up PCB Prices in 2026
• PCB Raw Material Shortage in 2026: Full Timeline, Data, and How to Protect Your Production Schedule
• Why PCB Lead Times & Prices Are Rising in 2026 (And How to Protect Your Project)
• How to Protect Your PCB Project From the 2026 Material Shortage

FAQ

How much have MLCC prices increased in 2026?

It depends on the grade and the channel. Reported list-price increases range from about 6-13% on consumer-grade parts to 15-35% on AI-server and high-end automotive parts, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics applied 30% across its portfolio from August 1. Spot prices for standard parts were reported up roughly 15-20% between late February and June, with some high-capacitance parts reported up 50-60% or more.

Which MLCC suppliers have raised prices in 2026?

Industry reporting shows increases from Murata (April), Taiyo Yuden (spring, with a second adjustment from September 1), Yageo (July 1), Walsin Technology (June and July) and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (August 1, with a further move expected for direct OEM and ODM customers in Q4).

Why did my BOM or PCBA quote go up when the design did not change?

Component quotes are built from live prices and availability. If MLCC list prices rose, if a line moved from stock to a spot or alternate source, or if an earlier quote expired, the BOM total can change without any design change. Bare-board material costs can add a separate increase.

Does an MLCC price increase raise the total PCBA price by the same percentage?

No. The effect depends on how many MLCC lines the board has, which values and grades they are, and how large the rest of the cost is (bare board, assembly, testing, logistics). A board with many high-capacitance or automotive-grade MLCCs is exposed more than one that uses mostly small standard values.

Will MLCC prices come down?

Not quickly, based on current reporting. New high-end capacity is reported to take 12-24 months to add, TrendForce has said tightness in high-end parts may extend into 2027, and large buyers are moving to long-term agreements. Weaker consumer demand and inventory corrections are the main downside risks to prices, mostly for consumer-grade parts.

Are other capacitor types also getting more expensive?

Industry reports say Yageo's July 1 increase covered several capacitor families, including aluminum electrolytic, tantalum, polymer and film. Switching capacitor type is therefore not a reliable way to avoid price increases, and it also changes electrical performance.

Is it worth paying a spot premium to get MLCCs faster?

Sometimes, but it carries risk. Spot quotes on constrained parts have been reported at two to three times earlier levels, and shortages raise the risk of counterfeit or mislabeled parts. Before paying a premium, confirm the exact part number, source, date code and traceability, and compare the premium with the cost of a delayed build.

How long is a component quote valid in a rising market?

There is no standard period. In fast-moving markets distributors often shorten validity, so ask for the validity period in writing, and re-check prices before placing the order if time has passed since the quote.

 

>> Sources: TrendForce News, Aug 4, 2026; TrendForce News, Jun 25, 2026; TrendForce News, Aug 18, 2026; TrendForce press release, Apr 28, 2026; The Korea Herald, SEMCO price increases; industry reporting on Murata, Yageo and Walsin pricing.