Kumho Petrochemical

What Kumho Petrochemical does

Kumho Petrochemical (금호석유화학) is a South Korea-headquartered, KOSPI-listed petrochemical manufacturer founded in 1970, operating across four main production sites (Seoul HQ, Ulsan, Yeosu, Asan, and Daejeon R&D) with 1,001-5,000 employees and a consolidated portfolio spanning synthetic rubber, synthetic resins, specialty chemicals, carbon nanotubes (CNT), cogenerated energy, and eco-friendly building materials (Hugreen brand). The company generates the majority of revenue (over 65% from exports) through direct enterprise sales to automotive OEMs, tire manufacturers, electronics companies, and industrial buyers, with NB latex ranked #1 globally and SSBR ranked #1 in Korea by production capacity. Under CEO Jong-Hoon Baek (appointed 2021), the company is pivoting from commodity petrochemicals toward high-value specialty products including SSBR for EV tires, EPDM, MDI, carbon nanotubes for batteries, and recycled/bio-based materials.

The company's product architecture is built around a vertically integrated chemicals platform: synthetic rubber grades (SBR, BR, SSBR, NdBR, NBR, HSR, Latex, SBS) serve tire and industrial customers; synthetic resins (GPPS, HIPS, ABS, EP, EPS, SAN) serve automotive interiors, electronics, and construction; specialty chemicals include antioxidants and vulcanization accelerators; and carbon nanotubes (claimed 100x steel tensile strength, 1,000x copper electrical conductivity) feed battery and composite applications. Notable proprietary platforms include a first-in-Korea heat-resistant recycled ABS process (over 20% recycled feedstock, ~16% CO2 reduction), a CCUS facility at Yeosu capturing ~76,000 tons of CO2 annually for conversion to liquid carbonic acid, and ISCC Plus certified bio-SSBR using bio-based styrene monomer.

The business model is asset-heavy B2B manufacturing monetized through direct enterprise field sales, with pricing not publicly disclosed and revenue diversified across automotive/tire (primary), construction, electronics/consumer goods, healthcare/medical, and battery materials/EV segments. Strategic recent moves include joint development MOUs with POSCO Future M and BEI for anode-free lithium metal batteries, partnerships with Idemitsu Kosan, SK Geo Centric, and Dongseo Petrochemical for bio-based feedstock supply chains, and capacity expansions across SSBR (35,000 tons), EPDM (70,000 tons via Kumho Polychem), and MDI (100,000 tons via Kumho Mitsui Chemicals JV). Revenue has declined from 7.11 trillion KRW in 2021 to 4.79 trillion KRW in 2025 amid the petrochemical downcycle, with the company now executing a portfolio restructuring plan targeting 6% revenue growth and 10% ROE by 2030.

Name

Kumho Petrochemical

Legal name

금호석유화학 주식회사 (Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://kkpc.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kumho Petrochemical (금호석유화학) is a South Korea-based, KOSPI-listed petrochemical manufacturer founded in 1970 producing synthetic rubber, synthetic resins, specialty chemicals, carbon nanotubes, energy, and eco-friendly building materials for global automotive, tire, construction, electronics, and industrial enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Petrochemicals

NAICS

Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (325212), Petrochemical Manufacturing (325110)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Synthetic Rubber & Elastomer Feedstocks (SBR, BR, NBR, EPDM) (IMAEADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Styrenics (Styrene Monomer, PS, EPS, ABS) (IMAEADAE), Specialty Polymers & Resins (Engineered Materials) (IMAEABAK), Polyurethanes (MDI/TDI, Polyols, PU Systems) (IMAEADAH)

Keywords

• Synthetic rubber manufacturing
• Synthetic resins
• Carbon nanotubes
• Specialty petrochemicals
• Eco-friendly building materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Synthetic Rubber Sales: Manufacturing and sale of synthetic rubber products including SBR, BR, SSBR, NdBR, NBR, HSR, Latex, SBS for automotive tires, industrial applications, and medical products
2. Synthetic Resin Sales: Sale of synthetic resins including GPPS, HIPS, ABS, EP, EPS, ENERPOR, PPG, SAN for automotive, electronics, construction, and consumer goods
3. Specialty Chemicals: Antioxidants and rubber chemicals for tire and rubber product stability and durability
4. Carbon Nanotube Sales: CNT supply for battery materials, electronics, and advanced composite materials
5. Energy Operations: Cogeneration power plant operation supplying steam and electricity, expanding into renewable energy
6. Building Materials: Eco-friendly building materials under Hugreen brand including ABS windows without hazardous heavy metals

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kumho Petrochemical manufactures and sells petrochemical products including synthetic rubber (SBR, SSBR, NdBR, NBR, HSR, Latex, SBS), synthetic resins (GPPS, HIPS, ABS, EP, EPS), specialty chemicals (anti-aging agents, vulcanization accelerators, paint additives), carbon nanotubes for batteries and composites, cogeneration energy, and eco-friendly building materials under the Hugreen brand. Products are sold to enterprise customers in automotive/tire, construction, electronics, battery materials, and medical sectors globally.

Product overview

Kumho Petrochemical is a petrochemical company offering a diversified product portfolio across synthetic rubber, synthetic resins, specialty chemicals, carbon nanotubes, energy, and building materials. The company operates as a global petrochemical enterprise with synthetic rubber as its flagship category, providing products ranging from general-purpose SBR and BR to high-performance SSBR and NdBR for tire applications. The synthetic resins division covers GPPS, HIPS, ABS, and other materials for automotive and consumer goods. Specialty chemicals include anti-aging agents and vulcanization accelerators. The carbon nanotube division supplies advanced materials for battery and composite applications. The Hugreen brand represents eco-friendly building materials including ABS windows. Recent strategic initiatives include anode-free lithium metal battery development with POSCO Future M and BEI, recycled ABS for automotive interiors, and CCUS technology for carbon management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 휴그린 (Hugreen): Eco-friendly building materials brand offering ABS windows, interior materials, and sustainable construction products free from harmful heavy metals and toxic substances
• Eco-SSBR

Products and services

• Synthetic Rubber (합성고무) Comprehensive range of synthetic rubber including SBR, HBR, LBR, SSBR, NdBR, NBR, HSR, Latex, SBS, STE, and LEADCAP — from general-purpose to high-performance grades optimized for tire efficiency grading systems. Targeted at tire manufacturers, automotive OEMs, and industrial rubber processors.
• Synthetic Resins (합성수지) Synthetic resins including GPPS, HIPS, ABS, EP, EPS, ENERPOR, PPG, and SAN covering food containers to automotive applications, with expansion into high-performance energy-efficient and eco-friendly grades. Used in automotive, electronics, construction, and consumer goods.
• Specialty Chemicals (정밀화학) Rubber chemicals including anti-aging agents (노화방지제), vulcanization accelerators (가황촉진제), and paint additives (페인트첨가제) for tire and rubber product stability and durability.
• Carbon Nanotubes (탄소나노튜브) Carbon nanotubes with 100x tensile strength of steel and 1,000x electrical conductivity of copper, supporting material innovation through composite material development combined with synthetic resins and synthetic rubber products. Supplied for battery materials, electronics, and advanced composite applications.
• Energy - Cogeneration (에너지) Cogeneration power plant operations supplying steam and electricity to industrial customers. Expanding into renewable energy including solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, TDF, and biomass.
• Hugreen Building Materials (휴그린 건자재) Eco-friendly building materials brand 'Hugreen' providing environmentally friendly residential environments. Focus on ABS windows free from harmful heavy metals and toxic substances, setting new standards for window systems, plus phenolic foam boards and waterborne epoxy.
• Heat-Resistant Recycled ABS Recycled ABS plastic with heat resistance for automotive interior materials, using over 20% recycled feedstock from discarded appliances with approximately 16% carbon emission reduction; first mass-production application in Korea.
• SSBR for EV Tires (Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber) High-performance synthetic rubber for EV tires with improved wear resistance and fuel efficiency; Kumho Petrochemical produces 35,000 tons annually for electric vehicle applications.
• CNT for Battery Applications Carbon nanotubes supplied for next-generation anode-free lithium metal batteries. CNT provides superior electrical and thermal properties to reduce internal resistance and induce uniform lithium plating on copper current collectors in anode-free structures.
• Eco-SSBR Eco-friendly tire material using Recycled Styrene Monomer (RSM) as alternative to virgin styrene in SSBR production. Part of the company's sustainable product portfolio.
• CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage) CO2 capture facility capturing approximately 76,000 tons annually from cogeneration plant exhaust gases, with captured CO2 converted to liquid carbonic acid for industrial and consumer applications.

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• Hansol Paper (한솔제지)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2026Joint development of next-generation thermal paper products. Kumho Petrochemical develops high-performance thermal paper core materials with improved thermal sensitivity using proprietary technology, while Hansol Paper handles product design, mass production, quality verification, and market expansion. Aims to localize thermal paper materials in Korea.
• POSCO Future McoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2026Joint development of next-generation anode-free lithium metal battery technology. POSCO Future M contributes cathode materials while Kumho Petrochemical supplies carbon nanotubes for improved conductivity. The technology promises 30-50% higher energy density and more than double charging speed compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, targeting EVs, drones, robotics, and urban air mobility.
• BEIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2026Joint development of anode-free lithium metal batteries. BEI leads battery cell design and engineering while contributing cell integration expertise. The partnership aims to commercialize next-generation battery technology for high-performance applications including EVs and air mobility.
• Thanks CarbonminorOthers · 1 January 2026Migratory bird habitat restoration project in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. The project transforms idle paddy fields into seasonal wetlands around Yeosu Gasari Ecology Park, expanding from 4,000 to 11,000 square meters by year three, with sensor cameras for bird population monitoring. Kumho Petrochemical invests 260 million won over three years.
• K&H Special Gas (케이앤에이치특수가스)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint venture for CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) operations. K&H Special Gas processes captured CO2 from Kumho Petrochemical's Yeosu facility, converting it to dry ice, food-grade carbonic acid, and industrial applications for welding, cutting, agriculture, and wastewater treatment.
• SK Geo CentricstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2024Sustainable bio raw material supply chain partnership. SK Geo Centric supplies bio BD (butadiene) while Dongseo Petrochemical supplies bio AN (acrylonitrile) from bio propylene. The partnership aims to convert existing monomer supply chains to bio-based alternatives and expand ISCC Plus certified product lines.
• Dongseo Petrochemical (동서석유화학)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2024Sustainable bio raw material supply chain partnership in Ulsan petrochemical complex. Dongseo Petrochemical produces bio AN from SK Geo Centric's bio propylene, with long-term cooperation to establish sustainable petrochemical industry in Ulsan.
• Idemitsu KosanstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2023Bio SM (styrene monomer) supply partnership. Idemitsu Kosan supplies bio-based SM from plant-derived bio-naphtha for use in Kumho Petrochemical's high-performance SSBR production. Plans to begin bio SSBR production by 2024, reducing carbon footprint and strengthening ESG cooperation network.
• Technip Energies (T.EN)strategicTechnology or Integration · 22 November 2022Recycled Styrene Monomer (RSM) business cooperation using waste polystyrene pyrolysis technology. T.EN holds technology license rights from Agilyx for waste PS pyrolysis. Kumho Petrochemical plans to introduce technology and build RSM production facility, targeting commercialization in 2026. RSM will be used in Eco-SSBR and other sustainable products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LG Chem: Korea's largest chemical company and a fellow KOSPI-listed petrochemical producer. Directly comparable as a diversified petrochemicals player with overlapping product portfolios in synthetic resins, synthetic rubber, and battery materials, including aggressive expansion into EV cathode materials and CNT-adjacent battery technologies.
• Lotte Chemical: Major Korean petrochemical manufacturer producing olefins, polyolefins, and synthetic resins including ABS and styrenics. Directly comparable to Kumho on styrene-based products and Korean manufacturing footprint with export dependence.
• SK Geo Centric: Korean petrochemical producer of olefins, polyolefins, and specialty chemicals. Already a feedstock partner with Kumho (supplying bio-BD) and competes in adjacent petrochemical value chains, making it a directly comparable Korean peer.
• Hanwha Solutions: Korean petrochemical and advanced materials company producing PE, PVC, and EVA, with growing exposure to battery materials. Comparable as a domestic peer pivoting from commodity petrochemicals into EV/battery adjacencies.
• Trinseo: Global materials company producing synthetic rubber (SBR, BR, S-SBR) and polystyrene/ABS products serving tire, automotive, and consumer electronics markets. Closely comparable product mix to Kumho's synthetic rubber and styrenics businesses.
• LyondellBasell: Global polyolefins and polymers producer with significant synthetic rubber and ABS presence. Directly comparable on commodity and specialty polymer platforms serving automotive and industrial customers.
• Lanxess: German specialty chemicals company with a leading synthetic rubber portfolio (including EPDM, NBR, S-SBR for tires). Direct peer on rubber chemistry expertise and tire industry customer overlap.

Broad incumbents

• BASF: World's largest chemical company with broad petrochemical, specialty chemical, and advanced materials portfolios including styrenics and automotive materials. Comparable as a much larger incumbent across overlapping product categories though far more diversified.
• Arkema: French specialty chemicals company with positions in adhesives, advanced materials, and coating solutions. Comparable on specialty chemical and advanced materials adjacencies including battery materials and sustainable chemistry investments.
• Sinopec: China's largest petrochemical and refining enterprise, dominant in olefins, aromatics, and synthetic resins. Comparable as a massive Asian petrochemical incumbent whose capacity decisions directly affect regional pricing for Kumho's product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kumho Petrochemical