OCI Chemical

What OCI Chemical does

OCI Company Ltd is a South Korea-headquartered specialty chemicals manufacturer producing high-purity materials for the global semiconductor and lithium-ion battery industries. The company's portfolio spans four categories: semiconductor materials (polysilicon, electronic-grade phosphoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, HCDS, fumed silica), Li-ion battery materials (caustic soda, high-softening-point pitch, SiH4 silicon anode precursor), carbon materials (carbon black, liquid pitch, BTX, plasticizer), and other chemicals (TDI). Core technologies include exclusive domestic production know-how for liquid pitch (520,000 MT/year, world's largest since 1996), 18+ years of semiconductor-grade phosphoric acid production, and proprietary processes converting TCS gas (a polysilicon byproduct) into SiH4 silicon anode materials. Manufacturing is concentrated at the Gunsan, Iksan, Pohang, and Gwangyang plants in Korea, with a planned semiconductor polysilicon joint venture in Malaysia with Tokuyama Corporation.

OCI operates a pure B2B direct-sales model, supplying major semiconductor manufacturers (Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, DB HiTek, SK key foundry, Kioxia) and battery-materials customers (Nexeon for Panasonic's silicon anodes, Ibiden Graphite Korea for semiconductor crucibles) under long-term supply agreements with rigorous multi-year qualification processes and dedicated key-account technical support. The company monetizes almost exclusively via hardware sales of bulk chemical materials at quote-based, undisclosed pricing — there are no subscription or consumption-based revenue streams. Pricing power is anchored by customer switching costs and qualified-supplier status rather than by disclosed price lists.

Following a March 2023 spin-off from OCI Holdings, OCI Company Ltd trades on the Korea Exchange (KRX:010060) and has actively consolidated its battery-materials footprint, acquiring full ownership of P&O Chemical from POSCO Future M for KRW 53.7 billion in August 2024. The company employs 1,001–5,000 people, reports under KRW, and maintains ISO 14001/27001/37001/37301 certifications, ISCC PLUS certification for recycled-fuel carbon black, and EcoVadis Gold (top 5%) status for two consecutive years (2024–2025).

Name

OCI Chemical

Legal name

OCI COMPANY Ltd

Website

https://oci.co.kr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

OCI Chemical is a Korean specialty chemicals manufacturer supplying high-purity materials — polysilicon, phosphoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, liquid pitch, and silicon anode precursors — directly to global semiconductor (Samsung, SK Hynix, Kioxia) and lithium-ion battery (Nexeon, Ibiden) manufacturers under long-term B2B supply agreements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

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

Revenue model

1. Semiconductor Materials: Sales of high-purity chemical materials including polysilicon, phosphoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, HCDS, and fumed silica used in semiconductor manufacturing processes.
2. Li-ion Battery Materials: Production and supply of caustic soda and high softening point pitch (HSPP) for rechargeable battery anode materials, with long-term supply agreements with battery manufacturers.
3. Carbon Materials: Sales of carbon black, pitch, BTX, and plasticizer produced from byproducts of steelmaking process, serving aluminum smelting, rubber, and other industrial applications.
4. Other Chemical Products: Production and sale of TDI and SiH4 for various industrial applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

OCI Chemical manufactures and supplies high-purity specialty chemicals to semiconductor and lithium-ion battery manufacturers, including polysilicon, semiconductor-grade phosphoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, HCDS precursor, fumed silica, caustic soda, high-softening-point pitch (HSPP), SiH4 silane, and carbon materials (carbon black, pitch, BTX, plasticizer, phthalic anhydride). The company also produces TDI for polyurethane applications. Products are sold directly to global chipmakers and battery material firms under long-term supply agreements.

Product overview

OCI Chemical is a specialty chemical manufacturer producing advanced materials for semiconductors and lithium-ion batteries. The company's portfolio spans four main categories: Semiconductor Materials (polysilicon, phosphoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, HCDS, fumed silica), Li-ion Battery Materials (caustic soda, high softening point pitch), Carbon Materials (carbon black, pitch, BTX, plasticizer), and Other Materials (TDI, silane). The products serve critical roles in semiconductor fabrication processes (wafer etching, cleaning, deposition), battery production (anode coatings, silicon anodes), and industrial applications (tires, coatings, aluminum smelting).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Polysilicon High-purity polysilicon used as a critical raw material in semiconductor wafer fabrication and solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing; sold to chipmakers and downstream silicon ingot producers.
• Phosphoric acid (semiconductor-grade) Semiconductor-grade phosphoric acid used in wafer etching processes during DRAM, NAND flash, and foundry chip production; supplied to Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, DB HiTek, and SK Key Foundry.
• Hydrogen peroxide (electronic-grade) High-purity electronic-grade hydrogen peroxide used in semiconductor fabrication cleaning processes to remove contaminants from wafers; supplied to Kioxia in Japan and other chipmakers, with 125,000 tons of annual capacity.
• HCDS (Semiconductor precursor) Semiconductor precursor chemical used in thin film deposition processes for chip manufacturing.
• Fumed silica Specialty silica used in rubber, tires, paints, coatings, and personal care applications as a reinforcing filler and thickening agent.
• Caustic Soda (CA) Sodium hydroxide used as a raw material in Li-ion battery materials production and various industrial chemical processes.
• High Softening Point Pitch (HSPP) Specialty pitch coating material for graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries that enhances charging/discharging efficiency and battery life; sold to battery anode manufacturers.
• Carbon black Carbon-based pigment and reinforcing filler used in rubber (especially tires), plastics, and coatings applications; OCI's Gwangyang plant produces ISCC PLUS-certified eco-friendly carbon black using recycled fuel oil from plastic waste.
• Pitch (liquid pitch) Liquid pitch used as binder in aluminum smelting electrodes and as raw material for isotropic artificial graphite in semiconductor wafer manufacturing; supplied to Ibiden Graphite Korea from July 2025.
• BTX (Benzene, Toluene, Xylene) Benzene, toluene, and xylene aromatic compounds produced from steelmaking byproducts and used as building blocks in chemical synthesis and industrial manufacturing.
• Plasticizer (incl. Phthalic Anhydride) Chemical additives and intermediates (including phthalic anhydride) used to increase flexibility and workability of plastics and polymer materials.
• TDI (Toluene Diisocyanate) Toluene diisocyanate used in polyurethane foam production for various industrial and consumer applications.
• SiH4 (Silane) Silicon tetrahydride (SiH4) specialty material used in next-generation silicon anode production for lithium-ion batteries; supplied to Nexeon (UK) under a KRW 70 billion five-year supply agreement from 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest market share in Korean semiconductor phosphoric acid market
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered key and core.

• Ibiden Graphite KoreakeyTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2025Only manufacturer of isotropic artificial graphite in Korea. OCI supplies pitch for isotropic artificial graphite used as crucible material for melting polysilicon into ingots during semiconductor wafer manufacturing.
• POSCO Future McoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024OCI acquired all shares in P&O Chemical joint venture for KRW 53.7 billion. JV produces high-purity hydrogen peroxide (50,000 ton capacity) and high-softening-point pitch (15,000 ton capacity). POSCO Future M supplies byproducts of steelmaking as raw material.
• NexeoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023UK-based silicon anode materials manufacturer with 170+ patents. Long-term supply agreement (5 years from 2025) for SiH4 special raw material valued at approximately KRW 70 billion (USD 55 million). Nexeon supplies Panasonic with silicon anode materials for EV batteries.
• Tokuyama CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Japanese chemical company (world's third-largest semiconductor-grade polysilicon producer). Joint venture to produce semiconductor-grade polysilicon in Malaysia with 11,000 ton annual capacity. OCI will import semi-finished products and perform post-processing at Gunsan plant.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tokuyama Corporation: Japanese chemical producer and the world's third-largest semiconductor-grade polysilicon manufacturer. Direct competitor in polysilicon and joint-venture partner with OCI in Malaysia, making it the closest comparable on upstream semiconductor materials.
• Soulbrain: Korean specialty chemicals company supplying high-purity electronic chemicals (etchants, cleaning agents) to semiconductor manufacturers including Samsung and SK Hynix. Closest direct domestic competitor in OCI's semiconductor wet-chemicals franchise.
• Stella Chemifa: Japanese producer of ultra-high-purity hydrofluoric acid and other electronic-grade chemicals for semiconductor etching and cleaning. Directly competes with OCI in semiconductor wet chemicals, particularly for advanced-node wafer fabrication.
• Hansol Chemical: Korean specialty chemicals manufacturer supplying electronic materials (photoresist auxiliaries, etchants, cleaning chemistries) to semiconductor and display manufacturers. A domestic competitor with overlapping customer base among Korean chipmakers.
• SK Specialty (SK Materials/SK Inc. electronic materials): Korean producer of high-purity electronic gases and specialty chemicals for semiconductor manufacturing, part of the broader SK Group. Directly comparable as a Korean domestic supplier of electronic-grade materials to the same Samsung/SK Hynix customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Resonac (formerly Showa Denko): Major Japanese electronic materials supplier offering semiconductor materials (CMP slurries, high-purity chemicals), advanced battery materials, and a broad specialty chemicals portfolio. Overlaps with OCI in electronic chemicals and battery materials at global scale.
• Wacker Chemie: German specialty chemicals and polysilicon producer with strong positions in semiconductor-grade silicon and silicones. Direct competitor in semiconductor polysilicon and broader electronic materials.
• Mitsubishi Chemical Group: Large Japanese diversified chemical producer offering semiconductor materials, specialty polymers, and battery materials. Overlaps with OCI across multiple product lines including electronic chemicals and carbon-derived materials.
• Honeywell Electronic Materials: US-based global supplier of high-purity electronic chemicals, etchants, and sputtering targets for semiconductor fabrication. Competes with OCI in the international semiconductor wet-chemicals market and serves many of the same global chipmakers.

Emerging players

• POSCO Future M: Korean battery materials subsidiary of POSCO supplying cathode active materials and anode precursors to global battery makers. Previously OCI's JV partner in P&O Chemical and now a related-party feedstock supplier, with overlapping exposure to Korean battery value chains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about OCI Chemical