Recently, the global leader in passive components, Nissho Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. expects that, driven by 5G and automotive electrification, the multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) market will grow at least 10% in the next three years.The price may decline.

In an exclusive interview with the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, the president of Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Nakajima Nakajima said that at least the next three years, the growth rate of the overall MLCC market will exceed 10%. The company will also strengthen its production capacity to meet market demand, especially in the most advanced MLCC products. It will actively invest and be technologically ahead of its overseas rivals by 3 to 4 years.

Nakajima said, “Now due to the global shortage of semiconductors, many customers are increasing the inventory level of MLCC significantly. It is expected that the price of MLCC may fall after the market is sufficient in the second half of the year.” He said that as the plant investment has come to an end, plans for this year The equipment investment is only 160 billion yen, which is relatively small compared with recent years, but the investment in production equipment is about 90 billion yen, and the investment in MLCC accounts for the majority.

In addition, Nakajima pointed out that Murata also intends to invest heavily in the battery business. Murata's all-solid-state battery research and development has received orders from many companies, and will begin mass production of 100,000 units per month within this year. Aiming at the wearable device market in the future, we hope to replace lithium batteries. He added that the battery business may not be able to make a profit this year, and investment will be the priority.

Facing the continuously leading Japanese factories, Taiwanese factories have drawn up different patterns through mergers, mergers and acquisitions. Yageo’s chairman Chen Taiming recently stated that in terms of Yageo’s global competitors, including Murata, TDK, Germany’s Littelfuse and the United States’ Vishay, the gross profit margin Both are 35-38%, but Yageo’s is 39%, mainly because of the strong channel layout.

Chen Taiming emphasized that Japanese manufacturers have done a very good job with a single product, including miniaturization and high-capacity. They make money through technology orientation, but Yageo is still bigger than Murata in the automotive market and shows a different layout direction.

Huaxinke also promotes the same strategy. Its subsidiary Xinchang Electronics is currently receiving a large number of orders from 5G small base stations. Previously, it transferred 100% of its investment in Hunan Hongdian to Jiabang of the same group to strengthen Jiabang’s inductor portfolio and market visibility. Huaxinke is operating strategy In the above, the group integration is carried out to maximize the benefits.

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.'s performance has been "strongly rolling". Last year, it set the highest performance in history during the epidemic period. Operating profit exceeded 300 billion yen. It is the first electronic component manufacturer in Japan to reach this milestone. Driven by 5G and the electrification of automobiles, Murata's market share of MLCC products has reached the largest market share in the world.