Kukil Paper Sees Surge in Premium Lining Paper Sales...Targets High-Value Specialty Papers Like Semiconductor Carrier Paper

Kukil Paper, an affiliate of SM Group, is accelerating the expansion of its high-value-added specialty paper business by promoting premium lining paper. With sales of lining paper growing rapidly due to the expansion of the premium interior market, the company aims to improve profitability by broadening its product lineup to include industrial specialty papers such as semiconductor carrier paper and electric heating membrane paper.

Kukil Paper announced on August 14 that its lining paper sales in the first half of this year exceeded 80% of last year's annual sales. The increase in demand for managing even the finest undulations and seams in wall surfaces, driven by rising usage of premium wallpaper and indirect lighting, has led to a surge in sales.

Lining paper is a base finishing material that is applied to wall surfaces before wallpaper installation. It enhances the smoothness of the wall and improves the adhesion of wallpaper, thus elevating the final finishing quality. The company explained that as the use of high-end wallpapers, such as silk and imported designer wallpapers, grows, demand for lining paper is also shifting from price sensitivity toward a premium market that values workability and quality of finish.

Kukil Paper's premium lining paper is distinguished by its higher price compared to standard products, but also by its superior strength, dimensional stability, and workability. Its ability to reduce rework helps save both work time and labor costs, resulting in repeat purchases among professional installers.

The widespread adoption of indirect lighting is also contributing to increasing demand for lining paper. As indirect lighting makes even the smallest wall imperfections and seams more noticeable, there is a growing demand for high-quality finishing at the construction stage. The growth of the pet market, which is driving up demand for non-foamed wallpaper, is cited as another positive factor.

Kukil Paper plans to expand its lining paper sales channels beyond the retail interior market to special contract markets, such as apartment construction sites. The company expects that as the government develops new housing sites in the metropolitan area and increases housing supply, demand for wall coverings and other interior finishing materials will rise in tandem with the increase in construction starts and project completions.

The company is also pursuing a fundamental transformation of its overall specialty paper business. In addition to lining paper, Kukil Paper is increasing its portfolio of industry-specific products such as steel guard paper, semiconductor carrier paper, and electric heating membrane paper. The company's vision is to move away from a business structure centered on general-purpose paper products and instead boost added value by raising the proportion of functional products tailored to growth sectors such as interiors and semiconductors.

In particular, industrial specialty papers such as semiconductor carrier paper are expected to see rising demand as the semiconductor industry becomes increasingly sophisticated. The company also plans to expand sales of its existing specialty products, including functional coating paper used in automotive lead-acid battery manufacturing processes and currency bands for banknote packaging supplied to financial institutions.

A Kukil Paper official stated, "With changing interior trends such as premium wallpaper and indirect lighting, demand is growing for not only price but also for workability and the quality of the final finish. We will nurture the high-value-added specialty paper business as a new growth engine by expanding premium and special contract sales of lining paper and strengthening our industrial specialty paper portfolio, including steel guard paper, semiconductor carrier paper, and electric heating membrane paper."

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