UNID
UNID is a South Korean inorganic chemical manufacturer and the world's #1 producer of potassium hydroxide (40% global market share), producing KOH, potassium carbonate, and chlorine derivatives via electrolysis for agriculture, petrochemical, semiconductor, water treatment, and pharmaceutical customers across 90+ countries.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What UNID does
UNID is a South Korea-based inorganic chemical manufacturer founded in 1980 and listed on KOSPI (ticker 014830). The company operates an electrolytic chlor-alkali production platform converting potassium chloride (KCl) into potassium hydroxide (KOH) and potassium carbonate (K2CO3), with chlorine, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, and sodium hypochlorite produced as byproduct chemicals. UNID holds approximately 40% global market share in KOH production and operates 720,000 tons of combined capacity across its Ulsan, Korea plant (400,000 tons after the 2023 expansion) and three China plants — UJC (Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), OJC (Taixing, Jiangsu), and UHC (Yichang, Hubei, operational January 2025 at 90,000 tons/year).
The company serves enterprise B2B customers across five primary verticals: agriculture (fertilizers and pesticide raw materials), petrochemicals (polymerization catalysts for ABS, SBR, latex), electronics and semiconductors (KOH for wafer etching and photovoltaic manufacturing), water treatment (chlorine and sodium hypochlorite for disinfection), and pharmaceuticals/cosmetics (high-purity alkali catalysts). Approximately 90% of Korean production is exported to over 90 countries through dedicated regional sales offices covering Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, Southwest Asia, Africa/Middle East, North America, Australia, Japan, and domestic Korea. Products are sold under direct enterprise contracts via regional sales managers with no public pricing.
UNID has pursued an active strategic pivot under CEO Lee Woo-il (appointed March 2023) toward next-generation energy and ESG businesses alongside its core chemicals franchise. The company has invested approximately 90 billion KRW in Solibers (solid-state battery electrolytes) and 140 billion KRW cumulative in Rebest (flexible secondary batteries), issued 154 billion KRW in exchangeable bonds for water electrolysis and carbon capture investments, and developed proprietary carbon capture technology with KAIST now being deployed in Boryeong City's Carbon Neutral Leading City project. The board business was spun off as UNID btplus in November 2022 to focus capital on chemicals and new energy. The 2030 corporate vision targets 3.5 trillion KRW in revenue versus 1.338 trillion KRW in 2025.
UNID firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UNID
- Legal name
- 주식회사 유니드
- Website
- https://unid.co.kr
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- UNID is a South Korean inorganic chemical manufacturer and the world's #1 producer of potassium hydroxide (40% global market share), producing KOH, potassium carbonate, and chlorine derivatives via electrolysis for agriculture, petrochemical, semiconductor, water treatment, and pharmaceutical customers across 90+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UNID industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Inorganic Chemicals
- NAICS
- Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180), Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (32518), Chemical Manufacturing (325)
- SIC
- Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chlor-Alkali & Derivatives (IMAEAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Inorganic Commodity Chemicals (Acids, Alkalis, Salts) (IMAEAAAA)
Keywords
Where UNID is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices15 records
Markets served
UNID business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Chemical Products Sales: Manufacturing and selling inorganic chemical products including potassium hydroxide (KOH), potassium carbonate (K2CO3), hydrochloric acid, liquid chlorine, and sodium hypochlorite. Revenue primarily from export sales (90% of domestic sales). Products sold to petrochemical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, food, semiconductor, and water treatment industries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Industrial chemical products sold via enterprise B2B contracts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
UNID product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UNID manufactures and sells basic inorganic chemical products through chlor-alkali electrolysis processes. Its core offerings are potassium hydroxide (KOH) in liquid (45%, 48%) and solid (85%, 90%, 95%) grades, potassium carbonate (K2CO3), and co-products including hydrochloric acid (HCl), liquid chlorine, and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). With 730,000 tons of combined production capacity across Korea and China, the company sells 90% of Korean output to industrial customers in agriculture, petrochemicals, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and water treatment.
Product overview
UNID operates a unified chemical manufacturing business focused on basic inorganic chemical products. The company produces potassium-based products (potassium hydroxide and potassium carbonate) and chlorine-based products (hydrochloric acid, liquid chlorine, and sodium hypochlorite) through electrolysis processes. These products serve diverse industries including agriculture, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, food processing, and water treatment. UNID is the world's No. 1 producer of potassium hydroxide by market share.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OLGODA (올고다): 마루 브랜드 - Flooring/wood product brand under UNID btplus
- GLOSSPAN
- UNID Global Corp. (유니드글로벌상사)
Products and services
- Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) Basic inorganic chemical produced via electrolysis of potassium chloride (KCl), available in liquid (45%, 48%) and solid (85%, 90%, 95%) grades. Used as a raw material in petroleum chemistry, agriculture (fertilizers, pesticides), pharmaceuticals, food additives, semiconductor wafer etching, and solar photovoltaic manufacturing. Sold to enterprise customers globally.
- Potassium Carbonate (K2CO3) Basic inorganic chemical produced through reaction of potassium hydroxide with carbon dioxide. Used in agriculture, food additives, gas refining, crystal and glass manufacturing, and as a polymerization catalyst in petrochemicals.
- Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) Strong acid by-product of chlor-alkali electrolysis used in PCB etching, LCD chemicals, polysilicon manufacturing, metal surface treatment, water treatment, and food additives. Sold to enterprise customers in electronics, semiconductor, and water treatment industries.
- Liquid Chlorine (L-Cl2) Yellowish-green gas by-product of chlor-alkali electrolysis used in petrochemical production (EDC, TDI, PC), water sterilization, and pulp bleaching. Sold to industrial and municipal customers.
- Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl) Chemical with strong bactericidal properties by-product of chlor-alkali electrolysis, used in water and wastewater treatment, household bleach, and oxidation of starch and dye manufacturing. RoHS compliant.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% global market share in potassium hydroxide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use UNID
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
UNID technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
UNID partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor, strategic and core.
- Deloitte Anjin (딜로이트 안진)minorPartnership to implement AI solutions for internal accounting operations evaluation. Development of customized AI models for automated internal control evaluation processes.
- Boryeong City Government (보령시)strategicParticipation in Boryeong City's Carbon Neutral Leading City project. UNID will install its proprietary carbon capture system to capture CO2 from waste incineration facilities and supply captured CO2 to smart farms.
- KAISTcore3-year collaborative research partnership with KAIST to develop carbon capture technology using potassium hydroxide. Successfully developed proprietary carbon capture equipment.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
UNID competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Solvay SA: Solvay produces soda ash, sodium bicarbonate, and chlor-alkali derivatives for industrial customers globally. It overlaps with UNID in basic inorganic commodity chemicals and shares the same industrial B2B sales motion into glass, detergents, and water treatment.
- Dow Inc. Dow is a global chemical major with substantial chlor-alkali and basic inorganic chemical output serving agriculture, packaging, and electronics end markets. As a broad incumbent, Dow competes with UNID in several inorganic chemicals and water treatment adjacencies despite its much larger and more diversified portfolio.
- Occidental Chemical (OxyChem): OxyChem, the chemicals subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum, is one of the largest US producers of chlor-alkali products including chlorine, caustic soda, and chlorovinyls. While broader than UNID and integrated with upstream oil/gas, its chlor-alkali operations compete directly with UNID globally.
Regional players
- LG Chem: LG Chem is Korea's largest chemical company with a diversified portfolio spanning basic chemicals, advanced materials, and battery materials. Its basic chemicals segment and Korean operating footprint make it a relevant regional peer for revenue mix benchmarking and capital allocation comparison.
- Asahi Kasei Corporation: Asahi Kasei is a Japanese chemical and material company with a chlor-alkali and basic inorganic chemicals business serving semiconductor, electronics, and industrial customers across Asia. Its caustic/chlor-alkali footprint and regional Asia positioning make it a directly comparable Korean/Japanese competitor.
- Hanwha Solutions: Hanwha Solutions is a Korean chemical company with overlapping chlor-alkali and basic inorganic chemical operations and a shared domestic Korean customer base. It is a relevant regional benchmark for pricing power and capacity in the Korean caustic/chlor-alkali market where UNID operates its Ulsan plant.
Direct peers
- Olin Corporation: Olin is one of the world's largest integrated chlor-alkali producers, manufacturing chlorine, caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hypochlorite. It is directly comparable to UNID in product mix (alkali + chlor-alkali byproducts), manufacturing process (electrolysis), and B2B industrial customer base.
- INEOS Group: INEOS is a global chemical manufacturer with a large chlor-alkali platform producing chlorine, caustic soda, and downstream derivatives across Europe, North America and Asia. It mirrors UNID's chlor-alkali product mix and B2B industrial chemicals model.
- Tosoh Corporation: Tosoh is a Japanese chemical manufacturer that produces caustic potash (KOH) and related chlor-alkali chemicals via electrolysis, making it one of the closest direct competitors to UNID in the global KOH market. Both companies compete for semiconductor, fertilizer, and water treatment end markets.
- Westlake Corporation: Westlake operates integrated chlor-alkali and PVC facilities producing chlorine, caustic soda, hydrochloric acid and related derivatives. The chlorine/alkali co-product structure and downstream PVC exposure make it highly comparable to UNID's chlor-alkali value chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UNID social profiles
Digital presenceUNID compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
UNID financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UNID leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
UNID subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
UNID funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UNID M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UNID
What does UNID do?
UNID manufactures and sells basic inorganic chemical products through chlor-alkali electrolysis processes. Its core offerings are potassium hydroxide (KOH) in liquid (45%, 48%) and solid (85%, 90%, 95%) grades, potassium carbonate (K2CO3), and co-products including hydrochloric acid (HCl), liquid chlorine, and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). With 730,000 tons of combined production capacity across Korea and China, the company sells 90% of Korean output to industrial customers in agriculture, petrochemicals, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and water treatment.
Is UNID a public or private company?
UNID is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was UNID founded?
UNID was founded in 1980. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is UNID based?
UNID is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does UNID make money?
One revenue line is on record: chemical Products Sales.
Who are UNID's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Solvay SA, Dow Inc. and Occidental Chemical (OxyChem). Regional players are LG Chem, Asahi Kasei Corporation and Hanwha Solutions. Direct peers are Olin Corporation, INEOS Group, Tosoh Corporation and Westlake Corporation.
Does UNID have an API?
No public API is recorded for UNID.
What industry is UNID in?
UNID's product category is Industrial Inorganic Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAAAC, Chlor-Alkali & Derivatives, with a secondary code of IMAEAAAA, Inorganic Commodity Chemicals (Acids, Alkalis, Salts). Its NAICS code is 325180 and its SIC code is 2810.