It has emerged that the domestic battery industry, which received trillions of won in tax deductions in the United States last year, might need to pay nearly 200 billion won in additional taxes by 2026 due to the implementation of a global minimum tax. Battery companies are currently investing in th
According to sources in the petrochemical industry on April 22, Lotte Chemical, the second-largest petrochemical company in South Korea, is seriously considering halting operations at its Yeosu Plant 2, which produces PET, a raw material for plastics. It is anticipated within the industry that the c
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. She can be reached at sunmi.kim@shinhan.com -- Ed.1Q24 OP to meet consensus in the absence of major one-offsSamsung E&A is expected to have registered sales of KRW2.5tr and operating profit of KRW197bn in 1Q24 in line with the market consensus. Sales
Despite challenging business conditions, South Korean petrochemical companies have been disclosed to make record-high investments in research and development (R&D). This strategic initiative is seen as an endeavor to strengthen competitiveness in emerging business sectors like high-value added (spec
With the passing of Hyosung Group Chairman Emeritus Cho Seok-rae on March 29, his sons, Chairman Cho Hyun-joon and Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang, are expected to take the helm of the business group.Hyosung Group formalized the establishment of a new holding company through its board of directors in Fe
Despite a downturn in the industry, petrochemical companies in South Korea have reportedly invested a record amount in research and development (R&D). This move is interpreted as part of a differentiation strategy to enhance competitiveness in new business areas such as high-value added (specialty)
SK Innovation announced at its shareholder meeting held on March 28 that it will reassess numerous businesses it has aggressively pursued so far. The company expressed its intention to focus on select ventures and concentrate its efforts.According to industry sources on March 28, SK has been conduct
LG Chem is seeking solutions to revive its struggling petrochemical business. Splitting the petrochemical business and attracting foreign investments from the Middle East to create a joint venture are among the scenarios being discussed.Vice Chairman Shin Hak-cheol of LG Chem responded to reporters’
HD Hyundai, the intermediate holding company for shipbuilding of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering [009540], announced on March 18 that it has recently signed a construction contract for three ammonia carriers (VLAC) with an Oceanian shipping company. The total order amount is 490 billion
Kumho Petrochemical has sold its entire stake in the SB latex business, a joint venture with Rizhao Jinhu Jinma Chemical Co., Ltd., a Chinese company. The decision to exit the local business was made in response to China’s low-cost competition and overlapping environmental regulations.According to t
Recently, there has been a trend where shareholder demands for increased shareholder returns have slightly subsided as proposals such as the retirement of repurchased stocks or dividend expansions were rejected at shareholder meetings. While companies have temporarily relieved the pressure by proact
Big South Korean companies are exiting China one after another. Business uncertainties are being fueled by fiercer competition and declining profitability in the Chinese market coupled with the U.S. government’s checks on China and policy changes by Chinese government authorities.Lotte Chemical sold
LG Chem, Korea’s largest petrochemical company, will shut down its styrene monomer (SM) plant at the end of March. SM is widely used in the manufacture of various petrochemical products. The company is also reportedly considering abandoning production of ethylene oxide (EO) and ethylene glycol (EG),
Korean shipbuilders overtook China in terms of ship order intake in February to take the number one spot in the global market.According to Clarkson Research, a British shipbuilding and shipping market analysis firm, global ship orders totaled 3.4 million CGT (100 ships) in February, of which Korea w
Lotte Chemical is reportedly considering the sale of its Malaysian subsidiary Lotte Chemical Titan (LC Titan).According to industry sources on Mar. 6, Lotte Chemical is searching for potential buyers for LC Titan, including Korean and foreign petrochemical companies and large private equity funds (P
The Korean government will launch the Top 10 Promising Markets Trade Mission, which will lead strategic market exploration to help the country achieve US$700 billion, the largest ever, in exports this year,.The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on Mar. 5 that it will send the
In the “2024 Most Admired Company in Korea” event organized by Korea Management Association Consultants (KMAC), S-OIL has been selected as the top company in the petroleum industry for eight consecutive years and as an All Star 30, representing the top 30 companies, for six consecutive years.The “Mo
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) recently signed a contract on the construction of four 174,000-cubic-meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers with an Oceania-based shipping company.The LNG carriers are valued at US$270 million per vessel, which is US$5 million more than the pre
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), an intermediate holding company of HD Hyundai, has won two orders for very large ammonia carriers (VLACs).HD KSOE said in a public disclosure on Feb. 20 that it recently signed construction contracts for two VLACs with an African-based client. The
Korea’s four major oil refiners are posting a gradual drop in their exports to China. They are diversifying their export destinations to Australia, Japan, and other countries to fill the void. China used to be Korea’s top petroleum product export market.According to the Korea National Petroleum Asso