According to the latest MLCC industry research from TrendForce, Korean manufacturing giant Samsung Electro-Mechanics has taken the lead in raising fourth-quarter 2026 quotes for its OEM and ODM clients, signaling that the MLCC sector has formally entered an upward pricing cycle.
TrendForce projects that Samsung Electro-Mechanics will implement an average price increase of 25% to 30% for consumer-grade X5R products supplied to OEM and ODM customers. This strategic move is designed to temper order demand while freeing up production capacity to expand its high-end manufacturing lines.
For the high-end X6S products used in AI servers, pricing will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, with average increases expected to range between 10% and 20%. Japanese manufacturers including Murata, Taiyo Yuden, and Kyocera are currently maintaining a wait-and-see approach with steady quotes. Whether they choose to follow suit with price adjustments will be a critical factor in determining whether the upward momentum expands further.
Benefiting from the spillover effect of consumer-grade mid-to-high-capacity orders, other manufacturers are sustaining an upward pricing trajectory for the fourth quarter, with estimated average increases of 10% to 20%, targeting consumer-grade mid-to-high-capacity products as the primary price adjustment items. Production utilization rates across the sector are simultaneously rising, with some suppliers already approaching the 90% mark.
Additionally, the sustained robust demand from AI data centers has widened the supply gap for optical communication modules, which in turn has tightened MLCC availability, prompting related manufacturers to actively seek additional support.
In contrast, the outlook for traditional ICT and automotive markets remains conservative. With slowing growth momentum across major economies and mounting pressure on end-consumer confidence, the traditional market could experience a "strong season without strong performance" in the second half of the year.
TrendForce indicates that with consumer-grade mid-to-high-capacity orders spilling over to other manufacturers, utilization rates rising, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics lifting its quotes, the MLCC industry has formally entered a price hike cycle. Whether Japanese players such as Murata and Taiyo Yuden will follow suit serves as a key indicator for the next wave of price increases, with expectations that the fourth quarter will see the MLCC supply-demand gap widen and prices continue their upward trajectory.
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