Oct 15, 2026Buying Guides
Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Lead Times: Samples and Production Orders
COREVIA builds every capacitor to order: samples in 1–2 weeks, production in about 30 days from deposit, FOB Chinese port. What starts the clock, what can move it, and what to send for a firm date.
Every COREVIA aluminum electrolytic capacitor is built to order. We do not keep finished capacitors on a shelf, because a screw terminal can for a UPS and a snap-in can for a solar inverter share almost nothing once you fix the capacitance, voltage, case size and terminal style. What that means in practice is simple: sample orders are ready in 1–2 weeks, production orders complete in about 30 days from the day your deposit reaches us, and the capacitors ship FOB a Chinese port with freight arranged on your side.
Lead Times by Order Type
There are three clocks, and they should not be mixed up:
- Samples — 1 to 2 weeks. From confirmation of the sample request to the point where the samples are packed and ready for dispatch. Courier transit time comes on top and depends on the destination.
- Production orders — approximately 30 days. From receipt of the deposit to the point where the finished batch is packed and ready for export at the port.
- Freight — arranged by you. Our quotations are FOB. You decide the shipping method and book the forwarder, so delivery time to your door is production time plus your transit time.
Because nothing is pulled from stock, these numbers are stable rather than optimistic: the same production process runs whether the order is for 100 screw terminal capacitors or 50,000 radial parts.
When the Lead-Time Clock Starts
The 30-day production time is counted from the day the deposit is received — not from the first inquiry, not from the date on the proforma invoice. Two things are confirmed before that point, so the clock never starts on a moving target:
- The specification is fixed in writing: part number, rated voltage, capacitance, case size and terminal type.
- The order quantity and the FOB terms are agreed.
If any of these is still open, the clock has not started yet — which is why early, complete specifications protect your delivery date more than anything else.
What Can Move the Lead Time
Around 30 days covers most series in standard case sizes. The situations that can extend it:
- Very large cases or unusual voltage/capacitance combinations. The foils and casings for these may need to be scheduled at our material suppliers first.
- Customized sleeve printing or packaging. Standard parts run fastest; anything customized adds preparation.
- Chinese New Year. The factory closes for the holiday period. If your delivery date falls in February, place the order early and ask us to confirm the exact production window.
When a requirement includes any of these, we confirm the actual lead time on the proforma invoice before you pay the deposit. The number printed on the PI is the commitment — not an estimate given verbally.
FOB: Production Complete Is Not Delivered
All COREVIA quotations are FOB: our responsibility ends when the goods are cleared for export and delivered on board at the Chinese port. From there, transit time depends entirely on the mode you book. As a rough planning frame, sea freight to Europe or North America typically adds several weeks depending on the route and season, while air freight compresses transit to days at a much higher cost. Your forwarder can give exact numbers for your lane; we give you the readiness date at the port and we keep that date.
Information That Gets You a Firm Date
To quote a delivery date we can commit to, send four things:
- The part number — or the rated voltage, capacitance, case size and terminal style if you are specifying from scratch.
- The quantity.
- The application and load conditions (ripple current, ambient temperature, expected service life). This decides which series is right, which affects both price and lead time.
- The date you need the capacitors at your dock, and the destination port.
With those items we confirm a production schedule and an FOB quotation. See also how minimum order quantities and quotations are built, or start with sample qualification if you are still evaluating the supplier.
Lead Time FAQ
Do you ever have capacitors in stock?
No. All four families are produced to order. The 1–2 week sample lead time is usually fast enough for an urgent evaluation; for production quantities, plan on the roughly 30-day production time.
Does the 30 days include shipping?
No. It ends at ex-factory readiness for FOB shipment. Transit time depends on the mode and forwarder you book.
Can an order be expedited?
Sometimes. It depends on whether the required foils and casings are on hand and on the production schedule at that moment. Send the part number and your required date and we will confirm honestly — we would rather quote a real date than a hopeful one.
When should I order ahead of Chinese New Year?
Earlier than usual. The factory closes for the holiday, and material suppliers close too. Confirm the exact window with us when you place the order.
What are the payment terms?
The deposit starts production and the balance is settled before shipment; the exact schedule is stated on each proforma invoice.
Need a firm date for a specific requirement? Send the part number, quantity and the date you need the capacitors at your dock, and we will confirm the production schedule and an FOB quotation.
