Xuan Gu Bao·2026-01-05 08:18Group 1 - Panasonic has announced a price increase for certain tantalum capacitor models by 15-30%, effective from February 1, 2026, covering 30-40 types of tantalum polymer capacitors [1] - Multiple passive component manufacturers in China have also issued price increase notices, with adjustments ranging from 5% to 20% due to rising raw material costs [1] - The passive component industry is entering a new round of price increases, driven by both raw material cost pressures and surging demand from AI applications [2][3] Group 2 - The primary reasons for the price increases in passive components are the rising costs of raw materials such as silver, tin, copper, and other metals, alongside increased demand driven by AI technology [3] - The price of silver has surged approximately 143% in 2025, contributing to the overall increase in production costs for passive component manufacturers [3] - AI servers require significantly more passive components compared to traditional electronics, with one AI server using an average of 30,000 MLCCs, which is 30 times more than a smartphone [3] Group 3 - Guosen Securities projects that the tantalum capacitor market will reach $21.7 billion by 2026, a 45% increase from 2024, with an anticipated supply-demand gap due to limited production expansion by leading companies [4] - Yageo Corporation announced a price increase for polymer tantalum capacitors starting November 1, 2025, in response to the surge in demand from AI applications [5] - Companies like Winhao Technology and Sunlord Electronics are also adjusting prices for various electronic components due to rising precious metal costs [7]