Two Chinese power-equipment manufacturers have announced price increases for UPS and data-centre products as raw-material and component costs continue to rise.
KSTAR confirmed on 24 August 2026 that it had issued price-increase notices to customers after an investor asked about a notice covering UPS, precision cooling and modular data-centre products. The notice circulating in the market indicated increases of 3%–8% from 1 September.
INVT followed on 4 September with a more detailed announcement. Its new pricing takes effect from 15 September 2026:
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UPS: +3%–8%
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Precision air conditioning: +3%–8%
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Modular data centre products: +3%–5%
Orders completed under INVT's stated conditions before the effective date can retain the previous pricing.
For overseas UPS buyers, the important point is not simply that two manufacturers have raised prices. It is that quotation validity, project configuration and order timing are becoming more important.
Both companies pointed to rising costs.
KSTAR cited changes in market demand and increases in some core raw materials. INVT referred to higher costs for metals and electronic components, longer delivery times for key materials, and rising logistics and supply-chain expenses.
Copper is one of the clearest examples.
In early September, LME copper reached a new record, while copper prices in China also moved sharply higher. Copper supply has remained tight, with industry data showing lower global mine output during the first half of 2026.
This matters to UPS manufacturers because copper is used throughout a power system, including:
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isolation transformer windings
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internal busbars
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inductors and magnetic components
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battery cables
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AC input and output cables
For larger low-frequency UPS systems, especially models with built-in isolation transformers, copper represents a meaningful part of the material cost.
A UPS quotation should clearly state how long the price remains valid.
During periods of fast-moving raw-material prices, suppliers may shorten quotation validity rather than hold a price for 60 or 90 days.
For buyers, it is better to confirm the validity period before starting a long internal approval process.
A UPS price depends on much more than kVA.
Before requesting a firm quotation, confirm:
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UPS capacity
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input and output voltage
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phase configuration
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load power in kW
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required backup time
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battery type and capacity
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isolation transformer requirements
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battery cabinet
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cable length
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communication options
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commissioning requirements
You can also read a UPS datasheet before comparing quotations, especially when different suppliers use different power factors, overload ratings or battery configurations.
Battery pricing does not always move at the same time as UPS pricing.
China introduced a 2% consumption tax on lithium-ion battery products from 1 September 2026, and several battery manufacturers have adjusted their settlement prices accordingly.
For projects using external batteries, it is useful to show the UPS, battery bank and battery cabinet as separate quotation items.
The UPS cabinet is only part of the project cost.
For example, increasing the distance between the UPS and battery cabinet can require a larger DC cable size. That adds more copper and increases installation cost.
Our guide on the distance between a UPS and its battery cabinet explains why cable length should be confirmed during the design stage rather than after installation starts.
The same applies to isolation transformers. A 100 kVA or 120 kVA low-frequency UPS with a large transformer will naturally be more exposed to copper-price changes than a small transformerless UPS.
For projects planned in the coming weeks, we recommend confirming four items with the supplier:
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Quotation validity
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Final UPS and battery configuration
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Expected production lead time
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Which accessories and services are included
The 3%–8% increases announced by KSTAR and INVT do not mean every Chinese UPS manufacturer will raise prices by the same amount.
They do, however, show that raw-material costs are already moving through the UPS supply chain.
For projects still at the quotation stage, locking down the technical configuration early can reduce the risk of having to reprice the system later.
At TAFENG, UPS quotations are based on the actual application rather than capacity alone.
For industrial, medical and data-centre projects, the final configuration may include isolation transformers, external battery cabinets, DC cables, maintenance bypass systems and communication interfaces.
Confirming these details before quotation makes it easier to compare suppliers and reduces changes after the order is placed.
If you are preparing a UPS project, send us the load information, input/output voltage and required backup time. We can use those details to calculate the appropriate UPS and battery configuration.
