April 2021 Monthly Market Research Report On Passive Electronic Components

CRL Monthly Review: Passive Electronic Component: Monthly Report:

APRIL 2021 Review

Report Highlights-

¥ Vishay Intertechnology updated their guidance for the March 2021 quarter saying sales would exceed expectations and grow almost 15% quarter-to-quarter in revenues. A remarkable achievement.

¥ Walsin Technology Corporation reported quarterly sales for passive components up by 5% quarter-to-quarter.

¥ Yageo Corporation reported quarterly sales for passive components up 7% quarter-to-quarter (Including KEMET Revenues).

¥ SEMCO reported earnings for the March 2021 quarter and demonstrated 13% quarter-to-quarter growth in revenues in their LCR Group (Components- MLCC are 93% of sales of this Group) citing strong demand from 5G handsets and automotive. The company expects the June 2021 quarter to be robust in the same end-use markets of communications and automotive.

¥ TDK CORPORATION-The company offered a positive forecast for the 2022 FY with expectations of the market growing by 4 to 7 percent and overall revenues for the company increasing by about 8% for the upcoming year. The March 2021 quarter outperformed expectations with total sales dropping by 1% on a quarter-to-quarter basis. Usually the March quarter is down much more significantly; however, due to strong performance in personal computers, automotive and wireless handset, the markets performed better than anticipated and buoyed by positive sales of passive components. Capacitor sales increased by 4% in the March 2021 quarter. Inductor sales for TDK remained unchanged (0% growth for the March 2021 quarter on a quarter-to-quarter basis).

¥ MURATA MANUFACTURING COMPANY- Murata, the world’s largest capacitor manufacturer, is forecasting a 1.8% increase in overall sales for the FY 2022 year. MLCC sales for FY 2021 were up 12% in value for Murata- an excellent year. MLCC sales to the PC industry were up almost 30% year-on-year. “ The company expects MLCC sales to continue to grow in FY 2022, but expects the module business to decline because of “specification changes in smartphones.”

¥ Copper prices jumped up 7.1% in April due to increased demand expectations for the metal for US infrastructure. Copper is also used in MLCC Terminations.

¥ Tantalum ore prices jumped up in April to $70 per Pound, with industry insiders forecasting $80 a pound by summer.

¥ Discrete inductor demand increased across the board for the first time in the history of the index showing strong demand for all ceramic and ferrite based inductors for 5G infrastructure, computers and automotive telematics and radar circuits.