Korea

It ranks among the technology leaders in many markets segments, including flat screen TVs, mobile phones and computer chips. Shipbuilding, the chemical and automotive industries and mechanical and plant engineering are also important. South Korea focuses on top performance in the technologies of the future and ranks among the international leaders in education and research

Evonik Industries, respectively its predecessor companies have been active in the South Korean market since 1985, when a local sales office was opened. There are currently two legal entities of Evonik in South Korea: Evonik Korea Ltd (EKL) as the sales platform and SKC Evonik Peroxide Korea Ltd (SEPK), a Joint Venture of Evonik (55% shareholder) with SKC for the production of Hydrogen Peroxide.

Total number of Evonik employees in South Korea is 98 and consolidated sales in 2013 were 228.5 Mil Euro. The sales company EKL and the administration of SEPK moved in April 2012 to Seoul’s Yeouido financial district.

Evonik Korea’s biggest sales area in 2013 was Advanced Intermediates, which accounted for ca. 24% of EKL’s total sales. Biggest product of Advanced Intermediates in Korea is Isononanol Alcohol, which is used to manufacture plasticizers for the PVC industry. Promising developments are sales of Alkoxides for Bio Diesel and TAICROS for EVA films for Photovoltaic applications.

The Business Unit Inorganic Materials is a very prominent supplier of Silica, Advanced and Functional Silanes to the South Korean market. For example HD Silica has been in strong demand due to the focus of the South Korean tire industry on green tires. An important market sector is the electronic industry, for which Evonik delivers among others products for wafer polishing or Hexachlorodisilane as a precursor for the production of memory chips.

For Business Unit Performance Polymers the automotive and electronic markets are strong outlets, too. Particularly Polyamide based high performance polymers are in high and constant increasing demand, as well as PEEK polymers. The latter is used for instance in electronic applications as retainer ring for chemical mechanical polishing or in the medical sector as implants.

Evonik has got a strong market position in DL-Methionine in Korea, serving its customers from local stock points.

Evonik Comport & Insulation is a leading supplier of specialty additives for polyurethane foam manufacturing for more than 50 years. Polyurethane foams are used in upholstered furniture and mattresses, car seats as well as for insulation both of refrigerators and in the construction industry.

Our polyurethane additive business was launched in Korea in early 1980's and Evonik is now the market leader of Silicone Surfactant business, particularly in the rigid insulation application.

Due to many years of experience of its interdisciplinary team and a highly sophisticated product portfolio Evonik’s Personal Care business line has become one of the leading suppliers to the South Korean cosmetic industry, which is a trend setter and famous all over Asia.
One of such trends was the launch of the meanwhile famous BB creams, which were introduced 2007 by several South Korean cosmetic producers. BB Cream, or "Blemish Balm Cream" has multiple functions because it combines Essence, Emulsion, Sun block, Makeup base and Foundation all in a single product.
Evonik supported its Korean customers in the development of such creams, among others by introducing the products ABIL^® EM90 and ABIL^® WE90, which play a key role as a emulsifiers.
BB Cream has widely influenced other Asian countries, such as Japan, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc. However, not only South Korean brands, also famous multinational cosmetic brands are launching BB creams in the global market: Lancome used brand name "B B", and Maybelline also has their own "B B Base" brand.

The Crosslinkers Business Line occupies a leading position in Isophorone Chemistry used as raw materials of coating technology and also an important supplier of high-performance specialty polymers. Since 1980's Crosslinkers has been serving an excellent position in Korea by introduction of Isohporone, Isophorone Diamine, Isophorone Diisocyanate with derivatives for Chemical synthesis, Epoxy and Urethane markets.

In South Korea, Evonik is also extremely well positioned in the fast-growing hydrogen peroxide market. Since summer 2008 the Korean company SKC has been producing Propylene Oxide in Ulsan using the innovative HPPO (Hydrogen Peroxide for Propylene Oxide) process developed by Evonik in collaboration with the engineering company Uhde. Propylene oxide is a starting product for polyurethane which is used, for example, to manufacture instrument panels and cushioning for autos. The world’s first HPPO facility, which operates under license from Evonik and Uhde, started with a capacity of 100,000 metric tons p.a. The first HPPO capacity expansion to 130,000 metric tons p.a. is on the way during mid 2012. The hydrogen peroxide required for this process is supplied "over-the-fence" by SKC Evonik Peroxide Korea Ltd (SEPK), Evonik’s Joint Venture with SKC, which was formed in early 2011. Prior to the JV formation Evonik ran the Hydrogen Peroxide production plant wholly-owned. Evonik is the world’s second largest producer of hydrogen peroxide, an environment-friendly bleaching and oxidation agent, with a current capacity of ca 600,000 metric tons.

With South Korea’s location at the heart of the dynamic East Asian region and its excellent infrastructure, Evonik sees ideal prospects of expanding business in this market in the future.