Japan's Murata Manufacturing and Ibiden have announced plans to expand production capacity to meet demand from AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, South Korea's Samsung Electro-Mechanics and LG Innotek are also investing in additional capacity, and competition among Japanese and South Korean component manufacturers is expected to intensify.
Murata Manufacturing, the world's leading MLCC manufacturer, has announced a medium- to long-term plan to invest approximately ¥1 trillion in expanding MLCC production capacity over the five years from FY2026 through FY2030. Capital investment for FY2026 has been revised upward to ¥270 billion from the previous plan of ¥255 billion, strengthening the supply of high-value-added products for AI servers and data centers. The investment will cover existing sites in Japan, Southeast Asia and China, with the Okayama Plant as the core site. ¥150 billion will be invested in new production lines, which will begin operations sequentially from the end of 2028. Additional lines will also be installed at overseas sites.
In the semiconductor package substrate sector, Ibiden is expected to expand production capacity by investing ¥151 billion at its Kakamigahara Plant in Gifu Prefecture, with mass production scheduled to begin in 2029. The company will focus on high-performance FC-BGA products for CPUs, targeting higher FC-BGA performance and a stronger supply structure. It plans to respond to growing demand for AI servers by strengthening both MLCC and FC-BGA production.
In South Korea, Samsung Electro-Mechanics has announced capacity expansions in both the MLCC and FC-BGA businesses, expanding its plants in Sejong and Vietnam. In addition to a ₩600 billion investment at its Gumi Plant, LG Innotek decided in June this year to invest more than ₩1 trillion to build a new plant in Hai Phong, Vietnam. Japanese and South Korean component manufacturers are seeking to secure market leadership through large-scale investments.