Kumho Polychem

What Kumho Polychem does

Kumho Polychem (금호폴리켐) is a South Korean synthetic rubber manufacturer producing EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate), and modified EPDM (KEPA) for global B2B customers in the automotive, construction, wire and cable, and industrial rubber sectors. Founded in 1985 as a 50:50 joint venture between Kumho Petrochemical and JSR Corporation, it became a 100% subsidiary of Kumho Petrochemical in July 2021 after the ₩151.3 billion buyout of JSR's stake. The company operates its main manufacturing complex at Yeosu (with five EPDM production lines totaling 310,000 tons/year of capacity as of May 2025), an R&D center at Daejeon Daedeok Innopolis, and a Seoul corporate headquarters, and ranks as Asia's No.1 and the world's third-largest EPDM producer.

The company's core technology is a proprietary ultra-low temperature EPDM polymerization process (developed and patented domestically and internationally in 2006) that operates near -100°C, enabling tight reaction control, production cost advantages, and integration with low-carbon manufacturing (low-pressure refrigeration and waste heat recovery). Its portfolio comprises three product lines: KEP EPDM (the flagship line with 35+ grades in dense bale, friable bale, pellet, crumb, and oil-extended forms for weatherstrip, hose, tire tube, bumper, and roofing applications); INNOPRENE TPV (combining thermoset rubber elasticity with thermoplastic processability, including the 5000 TPO series for airbag covers with high melt flow and low-temperature flexibility); and KEPA modified EPDM (functionalized with maleic anhydride, acrylic acid, or epoxide for compatibility with polar polymers such as nylon).

Kumho Polychem operates a sales-led, enterprise B2B go-to-market model with a 20MT/month minimum for direct sales, supported by regional Korean distributors in Seoul/Gyeonggi and Busan/Gyeongnam and dedicated overseas sales teams for Asia (Sales Team 2) and Americas/Europe (Sales Team 3). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company periodically issues regional price increase notices (e.g., February 2017: +€150/ton in Europe, +$170/ton in Asia Pacific). Revenue is generated entirely through hardware sales of synthetic rubber products across four primary verticals — automotive (primary), construction, wire and cable, and industrial/consumer appliance — with quality and ESG credentials (ISO/TS 16949, ISO 9001/14001/45001, World Class Product designation, and two consecutive years of EcoVadis Platinum, top 1% globally) supporting premium specification in automotive OEM supply chains.

Name

Kumho Polychem

Legal name

금호폴리켐 주식회사 (Kumho Polychem Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://polychem.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kumho Polychem is a South Korean synthetic rubber manufacturer producing EPDM, TPV, and modified EPDM (KEPA) for B2B customers in the automotive, construction, wire and cable, and industrial rubber sectors, operating 310,000 tons/year of EPDM capacity as Asia's largest and the world's third-largest producer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing

NAICS

Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (325212), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Elastomers & Synthetic Rubber Polymer Manufacturing (SBR, BR, NBR, EPDM, Silicone base polymers) (IMANAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Synthetic rubber manufacturing
• EPDM rubber production
• Thermoplastic vulcanizate supply
• Automotive rubber materials
• Modified EPDM rubber

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EPDM Synthetic Rubber Sales: B2B sales of EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) synthetic rubber in various forms (Dense Bale, Friable Bale, Pellet, Oil Extended) to automotive parts manufacturers, construction material makers, and wire/cable producers. Revenue generated through direct sales (min 20MT/month) and regional distributors.
2. TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate) Sales: Sales of INNOPRENE TPV products including 1000/2000 series and 5000 TPO series for automotive, construction, and industrial applications.
3. KEPA (Modified EPDM) Sales: Sales of functionalized EPDM products (KEPA 1130) modified with maleic anhydride, acrylic acid, or epoxide for enhanced affinity with polar polymers like nylon resin.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kumho Polychem manufactures and sells high-performance synthetic rubber products—KEP EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), INNOPRENE TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate), and KEPA (Modified EPDM)—for use by automotive parts makers, construction material producers, wire and cable manufacturers, and industrial rubber product companies. Products are supplied in multiple physical forms (Dense Bale, Friable Bale, Pellet, Crumb, Oil Extended) with tailored molecular weight, ethylene content, and diene content.

Product overview

Kumho Polychem is a synthetic rubber (elastomer) manufacturer producing three main product lines: KEP EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), INNOPRENE TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate), and KEPA (Modified EPDM). KEP EPDM serves as the flagship product line, available in over 35 grades across multiple physical forms (Dense Bale, Friable Bale, Pellet, Oil Extended) for automotive, construction, wire/cable, and industrial applications. INNOPRENE TPV complements the portfolio by offering a thermoplastic elastomer option combining rubber elasticity with plastic processability, used in automotive interior/exterior components and construction. KEPA extends the portfolio as a modified EPDM variant providing enhanced compatibility with polar polymers. As of 2025, Kumho Polychem operates at 310,000 tons/year EPDM capacity, making it among the world's largest EPDM producers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KEP: EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) synthetic rubber product line
• INNOPRENE
• KEPA

Products and services

• KEP EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) High-performance synthetic rubber (elastomer) with superior weather, ozone, heat, and chemical resistance, supplied in multiple physical forms and grades tailored by molecular weight, ethylene content, and diene content. Used by automotive parts makers (weatherstrips, tire tubes, hoses, molded bumpers), wire and cable producers, construction material manufacturers, and industrial rubber product companies.
• INNOPRENE TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate) Thermoplastic elastomer that combines the elasticity of thermosetting rubber with the moldability of thermoplastic resins. The INNOPRENE 1000/2000 Series and INNOPRENE 5000 Series (TPO) are used in automotive components such as airbag covers, interior trim, and weatherstrips, and in construction applications including expansion joints and vibration dampening mats.
• KEPA (Modified EPDM)

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved 2-year consecutive EcoVadis Platinum rating (top 1% globally)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major, former and core.

• POSCO Engineering & ConstructionmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 May 2025Engineering, procurement, and construction partner for EPDM plant expansion projects. Managed the 60,000 ton 2nd plant construction (2013) and 70,000 ton 5th line expansion (2025) under turn-key contracts.
• JSR Corporation (formerly Japan Synthetic Rubber)formerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2021Originally 50:50 joint venture partner since 1985. Kumho Petrochemical acquired JSR's 50% stake for ₩151.3 billion in 2021, making Kumho Polychem a 100% subsidiary of Kumho Petrochemical Group.
• Kumho Petrochemical GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company; integrated petrochemical group producing EPDM, synthetic rubber, and related petrochemical products. Controls 100% of Kumho Polychem since 2021.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Versalis (Eni): Eni's chemical subsidiary producing EPDM and other synthetic rubbers for the European market. Direct competitor in EPDM grades with emphasis on automotive and construction applications similar to Kumho Polychem's customer base.
• SABIC: Saudi petrochemical major producing EPDM and synthetic rubber as part of a broad chemicals portfolio. Competes with Kumho Polychem in commodity EPDM grades with cost-advantaged feedstock access.
• Mitsui Chemicals: Japanese chemical company producing specialty elastomers and synthetic rubber. Comparable in TPV/TPO development and serves overlapping automotive and construction customer segments as Kumho Polychem.
• Dow Chemical: Produces Nordel EPDM as part of its broad materials science portfolio. Competes with Kumho Polychem in EPDM for automotive weatherstrip, hose, and roofing applications, with a larger global manufacturing and R&D footprint.
• Sumitomo Chemical: Diversified Japanese chemical major with synthetic rubber and specialty elastomer operations. Competes with Kumho Polychem in EPDM and thermoplastic elastomers for automotive and industrial applications.
• ExxonMobil Chemical (ExxonMobil): Operates one of the world's largest EPDM production bases (Vistalon brand) as part of its broad petrochemical and specialty elastomer portfolio. A top global EPDM competitor with integrated feedstock advantages over Kumho Polychem.

Direct peers

• JSR Corporation: Japanese synthetic rubber pioneer and former 50:50 JV partner in Kumho Polychem (1985-2021). Continues to operate in synthetic rubber and elastomers, making it a directly comparable peer despite divesting the Kumho stake.
• Arlanxeo: A leading global synthetic rubber producer (EPDM, NBR, S-SBR, BR, IR) headquartered in the Netherlands. Direct competitor to Kumho Polychem in EPDM grades serving automotive, construction, and industrial rubber customers with comparable product portfolios.

Regional players

• SK Geo Centric (SK Group): Korean petrochemical company and fellow domestic peer producing synthetic rubber and specialty polymers. Competes with Kumho Polychem in Korea and broader Asia, with similar vertical integration benefits.

Emerging players

• PetroChina (CNPC) – Synthetic Rubber Division: Major Chinese state-owned producer expanding EPDM capacity to serve domestic automotive and construction demand. Increasingly relevant competitor to Kumho Polychem in Asia-Pacific EPDM markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kumho-polychem

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Kumho Polychem