On April 17, Chairman Shin Dong-bin of Lotte Group visited the Lotte Energy Materials’ smart factory in Kuching in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia to inspect the secondary battery material business and engage with local employees.Since 2019, Lotte Energy Materials has been producing copper foil in
Thanks to the booming export of Hallyu content such as dramas, movies, and webtoons, South Korea’s trade balance in intellectual property rights achieved its largest annual surplus in history last year.According to statistics released by the Bank of Korea (BOK) on March 20, the provisional trade bal
Kumho Tire plans to invest more than 1 trillion won to build its inaugural factory in Europe by 2027. The company intends to evaluate incentives and tax benefits pledged by four countries -- Romania, Serbia, Portugal, and Turkey -- including the size of subsidies, before finalizing the factory’s loc
The government plans to accelerate the expansion of K-food exports. It aims to achieve exports of US$13.5 billion this year and has set a target of US$23 billion by 2027.On Feb. 20, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the “K-Food+ Export Innovation Strategy” to nurture K-fo
In South Korea, Apple has recorded its highest-ever market share. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, last year, Apple exceeded a 25% market share in the domestic smartphone market for the first time, having increased its market share by 1 percentage point annually since 2020 an
During the Lunar New Year holiday, Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, visited the Samsung SDI battery manufacturing facility in Malaysia, emphasizing the need for bold investments despite challenges. On Feb. 12, Samsung Electronics reported that Chairman Lee, having arrived in Malaysia o
It has been revealed that the dividend payouts of major domestic companies increased by nearly 10 percent last year. Particularly noteworthy is the recent announcement by the government regarding the introduction of the “Corporate Value-Up Program” aimed at addressing the “Korea Discount,” which ref
SK innovation reported on Feb. 6 that its revenue for the last year amounted to 77.2885 trillion won (US$58.2400 billion) with an operating profit of 1.9039 trillion won. Compared to the previous year, revenue and operating profit decreased by 0.98% and 51%, respectively.In the fourth quarter of las
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) has set a target of US$700 billion for South Korea’s exports next year, with a plan to attract US$35 billion in foreign direct investment in Korea and US$150 trillion in private investment.MOTIE Minister Ahn Duk-geun said in a briefing at the Sejong
Hyundai Mobis (KRX 012330) has rewritten the history of overseas orders for global automakers by capitalizing on the ‘electrification’ trend last year. Surpassing its annual target significantly, Hyundai Mobis has inaugurated the era of overseas orders exceeding KRW 10 trillion. The company plans to
Hyundai Motor Group has achieved its highest-ever sales record in the United States, selling over 1.6 million vehicles last year. This milestone has propelled Hyundai Motor Group, the world’s third-largest automaker, into the top 5 in the U.S., surpassing Japan’s Honda. Last year, the group also ove
On Dec. 18, Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) announced the selection of the Pan Ocean-JKL consortium as the preferred bidder for the acquisition of the management rights of HMM, the largest ocean container shipping company in South Korea. After negotiation
Jusung Engineering, a semiconductor, display, and solar equipment company, has carved a mythical path in the barren land of domestic ventures. This year marks its 30th anniversary. Established in 1993, the company has experienced various challenges but has achieved remarkable growth through continuo
Kolmar BNH, a leading Korean health functional food ODM company, is setting its sights on the global market based on world-class manufacturing and quality technology. Notably, HemoHIM, an immune function-improving health functional food developed and manufactured by Kolmar BNH, is elevating the stat
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at pk.park@nhqv.com -- Ed.Celltrion Healthcare posted sound 3Q23 earnings, when considering purchase price settlements. Defying market concerns, the company showed a relative return of 15%p following its merger disclosure on
SK Innovation has successfully achieved a turnaround to profitability within just one quarter, driven by the growth in its overall business profits. The battery division has improved its chances of turning a profit in the fourth quarter, recording its historically lowest operating losses. Meanwhile,
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at pk.park@nhqv.com -- Ed.Hanmi Pharm delivered consensus-beating OP of W57.5bn for 3Q23, helped by both a higher drug (manufactured by Hanmi) sales portion at Hanmi (non-consolidated) and decreased Beijing Hanmi SG&A expense
The labor unions of six subsidiary parts companies under the Hyundai Motor Group have initiated the first-ever joint strike within the Hyundai Motor Group. They demand equal performance bonuses and special incentives with Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors while advocating for the elimination of hierarchy
Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors have successfully settled their wage and collective bargaining agreements (CBA) without labor disputes for the second consecutive year, but the aftermath poses significant challenges. The labor unions of Hyundai and Kia have managed to secure the highest-ever wage increa
Hyundai Motor and Kia have set all-time monthly sales records in the United States for September, with both companies also achieving record-breaking cumulative sales from January to September. With this trend, it appears that they may secure the fourth-place position in sales for the first time in 3