While much of the world ponders a post-industrial future, South Korea’s chemical industry is booming with a record-breaking $162.4 trillion KRW in revenue, underscoring its foundational role in everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to global supply chains.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, South Korea's ethylene production reached 11.23 million metric tons, marking a 4.1% year-on-year increase driven by expanded capacity at LG Chem's Yeosu plant.
- Propylene output in South Korea hit 7.85 million metric tons in 2022, up 2.8% from the previous year due to improved operational efficiencies.
- South Korea produced 5.67 million metric tons of polyethylene in 2022, with high-density polyethylene accounting for 62% of the total.
- The Korean chemical industry sales revenue grew to 162.4 trillion KRW in 2022, a 7.5% increase from 2021.
- Petrochemical segment revenue reached 85.3 trillion KRW in 2022, accounting for 52% of total chemical sales.
- Basic chemicals sales in South Korea totaled 45.7 trillion KRW in 2022, up 6.2% YoY.
- Chemical exports from South Korea totaled 89.5 billion USD in 2022, up 12.4% from 2021.
- Petrochemical exports reached 45.2 billion USD in 2022, 50.5% of total chemicals.
- China was the top destination for Korean chemical exports at 32.1 billion USD in 2022.
- LG Chem's chemical exports were 25.3 billion USD in 2022.
- Lotte Chemical exported chemicals worth 14.7 billion USD in 2022.
- SK Innovation's chemical division revenue was 12.4 trillion KRW with 60% from exports.
- In 2022, Korean chemical industry employed 285,000 workers, up 2.1% from 2021.
- R&D expenditure in chemicals totaled 5.2 trillion KRW in 2022, 3.2% of sales.
- Number of chemical engineers in Korea reached 45,000 in 2022.
South Korea's chemical industry saw strong production growth and record sales in 2022.
Employment and R&D
- In 2022, Korean chemical industry employed 285,000 workers, up 2.1% from 2021.
- R&D expenditure in chemicals totaled 5.2 trillion KRW in 2022, 3.2% of sales.
- Number of chemical engineers in Korea reached 45,000 in 2022.
- Patents filed by Korean chemical firms: 12,500 in 2022.
- Sustainability investments hit 3.1 trillion KRW in chemical sector 2022.
- CO2 emissions from chemicals reduced 8.5% to 45 million tons in 2022.
- Renewable energy use in chemical plants rose to 12% in 2022.
- LG Chem workforce in chemicals: 28,000 employees in 2022.
- Average salary in chemical industry 65 million KRW annually in 2022.
- Female employment ratio 28% in Korean chemicals 2022.
- R&D personnel numbered 35,000 in chemical sector 2022.
- Green chemistry patents: 2,800 filed by Korean firms in 2022.
- Energy efficiency improved 6.2% in chemical plants 2022.
- Water usage reduced 11% to 2.1 billion m3 in chemicals 2022.
- Recycling rate of chemical waste 78% in 2022.
- Vocational training programs trained 15,000 workers in 2022.
- Bio-chemicals R&D investment 0.9 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Hydrogen production projects funded 1.2 trillion KRW government in 2022.
- Carbon capture utilization storage (CCUS) pilots: 5 plants operational 2022.
- Digital transformation investment 2.4 trillion KRW in chemicals 2022.
- AI applications in chemical processes: 120 patents 2022.
- University-industry R&D collaborations: 450 projects in 2022.
- Chemical safety training hours totaled 4.2 million in 2022.
- Lost time injury rate 0.45 per 100 workers in chemicals 2022.
- New hires in chemicals: 25,000 in 2022.
- Overseas employment by chemical firms: 12,000 workers 2022.
- ESG reporting compliance 95% among major chemical firms 2022.
Employment and R&D Interpretation
While South Korea’s chemical industry bulked up its workforce and R&D muscle in 2022, it also flexed its green credentials by slashing emissions, boosting renewables, and investing billions in a more sustainable future, proving that growth and responsibility can be synthesized in the same reaction.
Exports and Imports
- Chemical exports from South Korea totaled 89.5 billion USD in 2022, up 12.4% from 2021.
- Petrochemical exports reached 45.2 billion USD in 2022, 50.5% of total chemicals.
- China was the top destination for Korean chemical exports at 32.1 billion USD in 2022.
- Exports to USA amounted to 8.7 billion USD for chemicals in 2022.
- EU chemical exports from Korea hit 12.3 billion USD in 2022.
- Ethylene derivatives exports totaled 22.4 billion USD in 2022.
- Plastics exports reached 28.9 billion USD, up 15% YoY in 2022.
- Synthetic rubber exports were 4.5 billion USD in 2022 to global tire makers.
- Chemical imports into South Korea totaled 45.6 billion USD in 2022.
- Raw material imports for petrochemicals were 32.1 billion USD in 2022.
- Naphtha imports reached 25.8 million tons valued at 28.4 billion USD in 2022.
- Ethylene imports were minimal at 0.12 million tons in 2022.
- Trade surplus in chemicals was 43.9 billion USD in 2022.
- Exports of battery chemicals hit 15.6 billion USD in 2022.
- Display materials exports totaled 9.2 billion USD to Asia in 2022.
- Vietnam received 5.4 billion USD in Korean chemical exports in 2022.
- India chemical imports from Korea were 3.8 billion USD in 2022.
- Japan chemical trade with Korea showed 2.1 billion USD exports in 2022.
- ASEAN region accounted for 28% of Korean chemical exports in 2022.
- Organic chemicals exports grew 18.2% to 35.7 billion USD in 2022.
- Inorganic chemicals exports totaled 7.3 billion USD in 2022.
- Fertilizer exports reached 6.8 billion USD, mainly to Southeast Asia.
- In 2023 Q1, chemical exports rose 5.6% to 23.4 billion USD.
- PTA exports from Korea were 5.9 million tons in 2022.
- MEG exports totaled 2.3 million tons valued at 2.1 billion USD in 2022.
Exports and Imports Interpretation
South Korea's chemical industry is so efficiently wired that it processes an ocean of imported naphtha into a diverse fleet of high-value exports, sailing a massive trade surplus on the back of a voracious Chinese market and the global demand for everything from plastics to battery materials.
Major Companies Performance
- LG Chem's chemical exports were 25.3 billion USD in 2022.
- Lotte Chemical exported chemicals worth 14.7 billion USD in 2022.
- SK Innovation's chemical division revenue was 12.4 trillion KRW with 60% from exports.
- Hanwha Solutions reported 18.7 trillion KRW chemical sales in 2022.
- Hyosung Chemical's revenue hit 7.2 trillion KRW in 2022 from petrochemicals.
- Kumho Petrochemical sales were 5.8 trillion KRW in 2022.
- LG Chem's EBITDA from chemicals was 3.4 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Lotte Chemical's net profit from petrochemicals was 0.89 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Production capacity of LG Chem's Daesan plant for ethylene is 1.75 million tons annually.
- Lotte Chemical Ulsan complex ethylene capacity is 3.2 million tons per year.
- SK Global Chemical's LDPE capacity is 0.45 million tons.
- Hanwha TotalEnergies' Yeosu plant produces 1.1 million tons ethylene yearly.
- Market share of LG Chem in Korean HDPE is 35% as of 2022.
- Lotte Chemical holds 28% share in polypropylene market in Korea 2022.
- Hyosung's tire cord market share is 42% domestically in 2022.
- Kumho Petrochemical's synthetic rubber capacity utilization was 92% in 2022.
- GS Caltex chemicals revenue 9.1 trillion KRW in 2022.
- S-Oil's paraxylene production was 1.2 million tons in 2022.
- Doosan Corporation chemical sales 4.5 trillion KRW 2022.
- Kolon Industries plastics revenue 6.3 trillion KRW in 2022.
- LG Chem R&D spend 1.8 trillion KRW in 2022 for chemicals.
- Lotte Chemical capex 2.1 trillion KRW on new plants 2022.
- SK Innovation employee count in chemicals 4,200 in 2022.
- Hanwha Solutions safety incidents zero in chemical ops 2022.
- Top 5 firms control 65% of Korean petrochemical capacity in 2022.
- LG Chem's new battery separator plant capacity 2 GWh annually started 2022.
- Lotte Chemical's hydrogen peroxide plant produces 450,000 tons/year since 2022.
Major Companies Performance Interpretation
South Korea’s petrochemical giants are locked in a high-stakes, multi-billion dollar poker game, armed with staggering capacities and fierce market shares, where the slightest innovation or production hiccup determines whether they walk away with a fortune or just a pile of impressive-looking receipts.
Market Size and Revenue
- The Korean chemical industry sales revenue grew to 162.4 trillion KRW in 2022, a 7.5% increase from 2021.
- Petrochemical segment revenue reached 85.3 trillion KRW in 2022, accounting for 52% of total chemical sales.
- Basic chemicals sales in South Korea totaled 45.7 trillion KRW in 2022, up 6.2% YoY.
- Specialty chemicals revenue hit 31.4 trillion KRW in 2022, driven by electronics materials.
- LG Chem reported 2022 revenue of 55.2 trillion KRW from chemicals division.
- Lotte Chemical's 2022 sales were 28.9 trillion KRW, with petrochemicals at 70%.
- SK Innovation chemicals revenue reached 12.4 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Hanwha Solutions chemical sales totaled 18.7 trillion KRW in 2022.
- In 2022, the average sales price of ethylene in Korea was 1,450 USD per metric ton.
- Propylene average price in South Korea was 1,120 USD/ton in 2022.
- HDPE sales price averaged 1,350 USD/ton in Korean market 2022.
- Chemical industry operating profit margin was 5.8% in South Korea in 2022.
- Total assets of Korean chemical firms reached 450 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Market capitalization of top 10 chemical companies was 120 trillion KRW end-2022.
- Domestic chemical market consumption grew 4.3% to 95 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Electronics chemicals sales surged to 15.2 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Battery materials revenue in chemicals hit 22.1 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Fertilizer sales revenue was 8.9 trillion KRW in South Korea 2022.
- Paint industry sales reached 12.5 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Rubber products chemical sales totaled 18.3 trillion KRW in 2022.
- In 2023 Q1, chemical sales grew 8.2% to 42.1 trillion KRW.
- Average chemical export price index rose 11.5% in 2022.
- Chemical industry R&D investment was 4.7 trillion KRW in 2022, 2.9% of sales.
- Top 30 chemical firms sales summed 210 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Petrochemicals market share in total chemicals was 52.5% by revenue in 2022.
- Specialty chemicals growth rate was 9.8% in revenue terms for 2022.
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
While LG Chem and its peers hauled in colossal petrochemical riches and buzzed about specialty chemicals, the sobering 5.8% operating margin reminds us this powerhouse is built on piles of cash, relentless R&D, and volatile molecules, not just profit.
Production Volumes
- In 2022, South Korea's ethylene production reached 11.23 million metric tons, marking a 4.1% year-on-year increase driven by expanded capacity at LG Chem's Yeosu plant.
- Propylene output in South Korea hit 7.85 million metric tons in 2022, up 2.8% from the previous year due to improved operational efficiencies.
- South Korea produced 5.67 million metric tons of polyethylene in 2022, with high-density polyethylene accounting for 62% of the total.
- Polypropylene production in the Korean chemical sector totaled 4.12 million metric tons in 2022, reflecting steady demand from packaging industries.
- In 2023 Q1, benzene production in South Korea was 2.34 million metric tons, a 5.2% rise attributed to higher refinery runs.
- Toluene output reached 1.89 million metric tons in South Korea during 2022, supporting downstream paint and adhesive sectors.
- Xylene isomers production in Korea amounted to 3.45 million metric tons in 2022, with paraxylene dominating at 72%.
- PVC production in South Korea was 1.78 million metric tons in 2022, boosted by construction sector recovery.
- ABS resin output totaled 1.65 million metric tons in 2022, driven by automotive applications.
- Polycarbonate production reached 0.92 million metric tons in South Korea in 2022, up 6% YoY.
- Methanol production in Korea hit 1.45 million metric tons in 2022, primarily for export markets.
- Ammonia output was 2.1 million metric tons in South Korea in 2022, serving fertilizer industries.
- Urea production totaled 3.2 million metric tons in 2022, with 85% exported.
- Styrene monomer production in Korea reached 2.8 million metric tons in 2022, up 3.5%.
- Cumene output was 1.23 million metric tons in South Korea in 2022.
- Phenol production amounted to 0.89 million metric tons in 2022, supporting resin production.
- Acetone output in Korea was 0.67 million metric tons in 2022.
- VCM (vinyl chloride monomer) production hit 2.05 million metric tons in 2022.
- Caustic soda production in South Korea totaled 1.95 million metric tons in 2022.
- Soda ash output was 1.12 million metric tons in 2022.
- In 2023, HDPE production increased to 3.45 million metric tons from 3.32 in 2022.
- LLDPE production reached 2.18 million metric tons in 2022.
- PET resin output in Korea was 1.05 million metric tons in 2022 for packaging.
- PBT production totaled 0.34 million metric tons in 2022.
- Engineering plastics output hit 0.78 million metric tons in South Korea in 2022.
- Synthetic rubber production was 1.23 million metric tons in 2022, led by SBR.
- Tires production reached 105 million units in 2022 by Korean chemical firms.
- Adhesives output totaled 1.45 million metric tons in 2022.
- Paints and coatings production was 4.2 million metric tons in South Korea in 2022.
- In 2022, purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production in Korea amounted to 6.8 million metric tons.
Production Volumes Interpretation
South Korea's chemical industry spent 2022 industriously feeding the world's addictions—from our need for plastic-wrapped everything and fresh paint, to our hunger for fertilizer and tires—proving the modern global economy quite literally runs on its molecular building blocks.
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