After Chairman Choi Yun-beom took office, the company has pursued efficiency improvements and investment to expand production lines. It now operates 19 lines at its Onsan smelter with annual sulfuric acid capacity of 280,000 tons. Korea Zinc said it has been expanding since late 2024 and plans further additions to raise annual capacity to 500,000 tons.
“As the largest supplier of semiconductor sulfuric acid in Korea, we are supporting the semiconductor industry,” the company said. It added that after building an integrated smelter in the United States in 2029, it plans to help stabilize supplies for Korean chipmakers operating there and strengthen its role as a global supply hub.
Korea Zinc also pointed to growing concerns about sulfuric acid supply amid the impact of the U.S.-Iran war. It said its semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid is produced through an integrated smelting process rather than oil refining, allowing it to supply the product more steadily outside the effects of the war and potential disruptions such as a closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid is a key material used in wafer cleaning to remove impurities. The company said this step accounts for one-third of the overall cleaning process. As circuits become more miniaturized, it said, impurity tolerances have tightened and the need for stable purity and quality has increased because wafer contamination directly affects yield and reliability.
Korea Zinc said it covers more than about 60% of domestic demand for semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid and supplies about 95% of its output to major chipmakers in South Korea. It also supplies global semiconductor manufacturers in Japan and Singapore.
The company said it plans to build a semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid production line at its U.S. integrated smelter, reviewing annual capacity of about 100,000 tons. It plans to start production with the smelter’s trial operation in 2029, aiming to supply production bases of global semiconductor companies in the United States.
A Korea Zinc official said demand is expected to keep rising as competition in AI intensifies and fabs expand globally. The official said the company will use its accumulated ultra-high-purity sulfuric acid technology to support supply-chain stability while expanding those capabilities into global markets and strengthening its position in semiconductor materials supply chains.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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