Taiwan-based leadframe makers are about to raise their prices to reflect rising copper material costs, according to industry sources.

London Metal Exchange (LME) copper prices have risen to a 9-year high level of US$9,000 per metric ton. Copper takes up 70-80% of production cost for leadframes used to package car-use IGBT modules, the sources said.

Taiwan-based makers of such leadframes have adopted a pricing scheme of monthly adjusting quotes according to changes in material costs, and IDMs have so far accepted such quote adjustments, the sources noted.

Components of a new energy car entail use of 70-80kg of copper, much more than 20-30kg for a fuel car, the sources said.

Major Taiwan-based leadframe makers include SDI, Jih Lin Technology and Chang Wah Technology.