The company posted consolidated revenue of 12.25 trillion won for the January-March period, down 2.6 percent from a year ago, but up 6.2 percent from the preceding quarter, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday.
"Despite uncertainties stemming from raw material supply instability, profitability improved quarter-on-quarter thanks to positive inventory lagging effects from rising feedstock prices and one-off revenue recognition in the petrochemical segment," CFO Cha Dong-seok said.
Cha added that LG Chem would accelerate its pivot toward high-value, high-margin businesses to build a more resilient structure against volatile economic cycles.
The petrochemical division, long the company's cash cow, recorded revenue of 4.47 trillion won and operating profit of 164.8 billion won, with the European tariff refund and naphtha lagging effects bolstering an otherwise tepid quarter.
The advanced materials segment posted revenue of 843.1 billion won and an operating loss of 43.3 billion won, though the deficit narrowed as cathode material shipments grew and new semiconductor materials began contributing to sales.
The life sciences division brought in revenue of 312.6 billion won and operating profit of 33.7 billion won, with lower research and marketing expenses offsetting a dip in export shipment timing.
Its subsidiary LG Energy Solution, the nation's largest battery maker, logged revenue of 6.56 trillion won but posted an operating loss of 207.8 billion won, dragged down by ramp-up costs at new ESS production facilities and a weaker product mix from declining North American EV pouch cell volumes.
Shares of LG Chem traded at 397,000 won per stock at 1:49 p.m., 2.58 percent lower than the day before.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
