Semiconductor Sulfuric Acid's 'Golden Era': Korea Zinc Shines on the Global Stage

Impact of the Semiconductor Industry Super Cycle
Sulfuric Acid for Wafer Impurity Removal
Orders Increase in Line with Semiconductor Production

Korea Zinc Supplies 60% of Domestic Semiconductor Sulfuric Acid Demand
Close Collaboration with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix
Production Line Planned in Tennessee, USA

With the intensifying competition in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, the semiconductor industry has entered a super cycle, resulting in a boom for the semiconductor sulfuric acid market as well. Semiconductor sulfuric acid, which is essential for removing impurities from wafer surfaces during the semiconductor cleaning process, is seeing a rise in orders proportional to the increase in semiconductor production. Derived by converting sulfuric acid, a byproduct of smelting, into a high value-added product, semiconductor sulfuric acid is enabling related companies to expand their portfolios and secure stable sources of revenue.

According to Industry Research on March 10, the electronic-grade sulfuric acid market, including semiconductor sulfuric acid, is estimated to reach 315.19 million dollars (approximately 467.8 billion won) this year. With an average annual growth rate of 4.4%, the electronic-grade sulfuric acid market is expected to surge to 464.39 million dollars (approximately 689.6 billion won) by 2035.

Semiconductor sulfuric acid is extracted as a byproduct during the smelting of zinc, lead, and other metals. In this process, sulfur or sulfur dioxide is first obtained, and after a purification step that removes impurities such as sulfur dioxide dust and metal mist, a catalyst is added to convert it into sulfur trioxide. Sulfur trioxide is then synthesized into sulfuric acid with a purity of 98-99%, which is further refined into ultra-high purity sulfuric acid to produce the final semiconductor sulfuric acid.

Semiconductor sulfuric acid is used to remove impurities from the surface of wafers. This impurity removal is a critical step in semiconductor manufacturing, as the cleanliness of the wafer surface has a significant impact on semiconductor yield and reliability. The process of removing impurities from wafer surfaces using semiconductor sulfuric acid accounts for about 30% of the entire cleaning process, underscoring its importance.

In the domestic market, Korea Zinc, the world's leading non-ferrous metal smelting company, has demonstrated unrivaled supply capabilities. As of last year, the company had an annual production capacity of 280,000 tons. With 19 production lines at its Onsan smelter in Ulsan, Korea Zinc is able to stably produce high-purity sulfuric acid. Starting in the second half of this year, the company plans to expand its annual capacity to 320,000 tons, with further plans to increase to 500,000 tons per year in the future.

In particular, Korea Zinc is noted for its close collaboration with the two major domestic semiconductor giants, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Korea Zinc is responsible for more than 60% of domestic semiconductor sulfuric acid demand, with 95% of its semiconductor sulfuric acid supplied to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. With SK hynix's new plant scheduled to be operational in 2027 and further expansions anticipated, demand for semiconductor sulfuric acid is expected to continue rising. Korea Zinc also supplies to global semiconductor manufacturers in countries such as Japan and Singapore.

As demand for semiconductor sulfuric acid grows, Korea Zinc plans to establish a semiconductor sulfuric acid production line at its integrated smelter currently under construction in Tennessee, USA. This strategy aligns with the large-scale local plant construction by major domestic and global semiconductor companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in the United States. The company expects the production capacity at this site to reach approximately 40,000 tons annually by the end of 2029.

Industry insiders expect semiconductor sulfuric acid to become a 'star product' that enhances corporate profit stability. Since semiconductor sulfuric acid is typically sold through medium- to long-term contracts lasting more than a year, it offers the advantage of stable business operations. A Korea Zinc representative said, "The ultra-high purity sulfuric acid produced by Korea Zinc is an essential material for determining semiconductor quality. We plan to produce semiconductor sulfuric acid not only domestically but also at our integrated smelter in the United States, supporting domestic and global semiconductor companies in maintaining stable yields for their product manufacturing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.