Lotte Chemical Group Breaks Ground on Pyeongtaek Semiconductor Materials Plant... Diversifying Production Bases

Expanding Developer Production Plant with 130 Billion Won Investment
Strengthening Supply Chain Stability through Dual Bases in Ulsan and Pyeongtaek

Lotte Chemical Group is establishing a key materials production base in Pyeongtaek to proactively respond to the expansion of the domestic semiconductor cluster and the growing global demand.

Handuk Chemical, an affiliate of Lotte Chemical Group, announced on June 19 that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for a production plant for semiconductor and display developer (TMAH, tetramethylammonium hydroxide) in the Poseung District of Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

Aerial view of Handeok Chemical Pyeongtaek Plant. Lotte Chemical

Developer (TMAH) is an essential key material used in the development process that forms fine circuit patterns in semiconductor and display manufacturing. Currently, high-purity developer for semiconductors can only be produced in Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States.

Handuk Chemical, the world’s leading manufacturer of semiconductor developer, was established in 1995 as a 50:50 joint venture between Lotte Fine Chemical and Japan’s Tokuyama. Since 2020, Lotte Chemical and Tokuyama have each held a 50% stake.

Handuk Chemical plans to invest a total of 130 billion won to expand its semiconductor developer production facilities on a 32,216 square meter (about 9,746 pyeong) site in the Poseung District of Pyeongtaek.

Through this, the company expects to create a dual production base between Ulsan and Pyeongtaek, thereby strengthening its ability to respond stably to global supply fluctuations and improving logistics efficiency and supply responsiveness.

Lee Youngjun, CEO of Lotte Chemical Group, said at the groundbreaking ceremony, "The groundbreaking of the Pyeongtaek plant is a strategic investment to proactively address future demand and an important stepping stone to strengthen Lotte Group’s advanced materials business. By establishing dual production bases in both Ulsan and Pyeongtaek, we aim to build a stable supply system and further enhance the supply chain stability of Korea’s semiconductor cluster."

Hiroshi Yokota, Chairman of Tokuyama, stated, "I am confident that the new Pyeongtaek plant will contribute to the future growth of the semiconductor industry by steadily supplying high-quality materials."

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