Korea Zinc (KRX:010130) expanded sulfuric acid production capacity to 320,000 tonnes annually, up from 280,000 tonnes, to serve semiconductor manufacturers' refining and process-chemical needs, the company said Wednesday. The expansion at the Onsan facility targets chipmakers investing in new fabs across Korea and Taiwan.
Advanced semiconductors require ultra-pure sulfuric acid for photolithography, doping and cleaning steps. Korea Zinc is marketing new capacity to Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and third-party foundries as fab capex cycles accelerate.
Korea Zinc's market capitalisation was ₩25.5 trillion at Thursday's close. First-half 2026 zinc and copper revenues represented 72% of consolidated revenue, with specialty chemical margins exceeding primary-metal margins by 300-400 basis points. Operating income of ₩342 billion grew 25% year-over-year.
Semiconductor material purity and consistency requirements create durable demand moats for specialty chemical suppliers despite commodity exposure.
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| Symbol | Last Price |
|---|---|
| 010130Korea Zinc Company, Ltd. | ₩1,222,000 -0.2% |