Due to advanced information and communication technologies and the computerization of automobiles, global demand for capacitors is on the rise.

Global demand for capacitors is growing. The maturation of information and communication technologies, advancements in the computerization and electrification of automobiles, and the global increase in demand for industrial equipment have driven recent demand for capacitors. Capacitor manufacturers will continue to aim for business growth by fostering the development of new products that anticipate next-generation demand, strengthening global sales and marketing efforts, and enhancing production capacity both in Japan and abroad.

　A capacitor is an electronic component that stores and releases electrical energy. They also have some other features, such as conducting only alternating current and not direct current, and absorbing noise. They are one of the indispensable key components of various types of electrical equipment.

From 2017 to 2018, amid global economic growth, global demand for capacitors surged significantly. In 2019, however, as U.S.-China tensions intensified and the global economy stalled, China’s market slowed down, leading to a decline in demand. In the second half of 2020, the recovery of automobile production—particularly in the United States and China—the rising demand associated with 5G, as well as increased demand for personal computers (PCs), tablets, gaming consoles, and white goods related to home appliances, all fueled the surge in capacitor demand. This increase in demand drove strong growth in the capacitor market.

In 2021, the capacitor market continued the momentum from the second half of 2020, posting strong growth for the entire year. In particular, the rise in 5G smartphones and small base stations, the increasing computerization and electrification of automobiles, growing demand related to industrial machinery and factory automation, and higher production of white goods all fueled the demand for capacitors. Additionally, driven by the semiconductor shortage and supply chain disruptions, a trend of building component inventories—particularly among Tier-1 suppliers—led to an increase in capacitor orders.

　Therefore, most major capacitor manufacturers are... In fiscal year 2021 (ending March 2022), the company achieved significant growth in both sales and profits, and the order value and order backlog of each company remain high.

　So far, In 2022, demand for condensers remained robust. Demand related to industrial equipment was particularly strong, such as factory automation and manufacturing equipment. In the information and communications technology sector, although adjustments in China’s smartphone production continued, demand for high-end smartphones from U.S. companies like Apple remained strong. The increasing complexity of smartphones driven by 5G has also boosted the number of capacitors installed in each phone.

　Although capacitor orders have recently become somewhat sluggish compared to earlier periods, many capacitor manufacturers still have substantial backlogs of orders, and all companies continue to operate at full capacity. Companies are also eager to invest in factories and equipment and plan to... In the second half of 2022 and in 2023, we will increase the capacity of our existing plants in Japan and overseas, and build new plants.

　In terms of capacitor product development, we are focusing our efforts on developing new products and expanding our product lineup, such as monolithic ceramic capacitors. MLCCs, aluminum electrolytic capacitors, tantalum capacitors, and film capacitors—these are being developed to meet the next-generation demands in growing sectors such as high-performance mobile devices, automotive applications, and industrial equipment. The focus is on developing new products and expanding the product portfolio. As devices and equipment become smaller and more sophisticated, and as automobiles increasingly adopt electric powertrains, companies are making every effort to develop new products that meet stringent specifications—including compactness, high capacitance, high thermal resistance, low equivalent series resistance (ESR), high reliability, and long service life.

　Due to their low cost, small size, large capacitance, and high reliability, aluminum electrolytic capacitors are seeing increasing demand in a variety of applications across consumer, automotive, and industrial equipment.

　Conventional aluminum electrolytic capacitors use an electrolyte as the dielectric, but in recent years, there has been significant progress in the development of conductive polymer types and hybrid types (conductive polymer hybrid aluminum electrolytic capacitors), leading to a rapid increase in demand.

　Electrolyte type The ESR is higher than that of other types because the conduction mechanism is ionic conduction. However, thanks to their ability to repair defects in alumina, they exhibit high reliability. Products for automotive applications have been developed for operation at 150°C, and high-voltage products rated at 700V for industrial machinery have also been developed.

　The demand for conductive polymer types in automotive applications is rapidly increasing. Their conduction mechanism is electron conduction; therefore, they are characterized by low... ESL and high ripple current capability. Hybrid capacitors use both electrolytes and conductive polymers as their dielectrics. Their electrical characteristics fall between those of pure electrolyte and pure conductive polymer types; however, their self-healing properties significantly enhance the reliability of high-voltage products. Thanks to their high voltage withstand capability, they are increasingly being used in automotive applications.

　Chip-type aluminum electrolytic capacitors with high thermal resistance and long service life are also being pursued, ensuring thermal resistance of... Products rated for 150℃ for 2,000 hours and 125℃ for 5,000 hours are currently in mass production.

　We are currently focusing our efforts on developing compact, high-capacity multilayer ceramic capacitors. In high-density fields such as smartphone and tablet terminals, it has already moved from... The component size has evolved from 1608 (1.6 x 0.8 mm) to 1005 (1.0 x 0.5 mm), then to 0603 (0.6 x 0.3 mm) and finally to 0402 (0.4 x 0.2 mm). Recently, even smaller components in the 0201 size (0.25 x 0.125 mm) have been increasingly adopted in modules and other applications. To meet the demands of embedded circuit board applications, ultra-thin MLCCs with a thickness of just 0.064 mm have also become commercially available.

　To achieve high capacitance, the dielectric ceramic particles must be uniformly micronized and arranged in multilayer thin films. By reducing the thickness of the dielectric to Microferrites of 1 micron or smaller, along with multilayer laminations, have achieved capacitances of several hundred microfarads.

　Tantalum capacitors are characterized by their compact size, high capacitance, and long lifespan, and are increasingly being used in personal computers and tablets. Recently, while pursuing miniaturization, people have also been enhancing capacitance by miniaturizing tantalum powder. Miniaturization has now reached a stage where... The dimensions of 1005, and so on. Smaller and thinner dimensions make it possible to integrate this into smartphones and other devices.

　Thin-film capacitors are used in power circuits for smoothing, surge-absorbing filtering, damping, and noise suppression. X and Y capacitors. By adding various characteristics to dielectric films, optimized products tailored for a wide range of applications have been developed, and demand is growing—particularly in power electronics applications such as xEVs and new energy-related applications.