Journalist
AJP
davekim0807@ajupress.com
-
Hyundai Motor Group overtakes Volkswagen in profitability, claims global No. 2 spot SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group surpassed Volkswagen Group in annual operating profit for the first time last year, securing the No. 2 position among global automakers in a milestone that underscores the South Korean conglomerate's rising dominance in an increasingly competitive industry. The group, which encompasses Hyundai Motor Company, Kia and premium line Genesis, posted a combined operating profit of 20.55 trillion won ($13.99 billion) in 2025, comfortably eclipsing Volkswagen's 8.9 billion euros (15.19 trillion won). Toyota Group retained the top spot with an operating profit of 4.31 trillion yen (39.97 trillion won). Hyundai Motor Group sold 7.27 million vehicles worldwide last year, ranking third in global sales behind Toyota at 11.32 million units and Volkswagen at 8.98 million units. General Motors trailed in fourth with 6.18 million units, followed by Stellantis at 5.48 million. The group's operating profit margin stood at 6.8 percent, more than double Volkswagen's 2.8 percent, and second only to Toyota's 8.6 percent. Despite shouldering about 7.2 trillion won in U.S. tariff-related costs — split between Hyundai Motor at 4.1 trillion won and Kia at 3.1 trillion won — the group's tariff burden was lighter than that of Toyota, which paid about 1.2 trillion yen. Hyundai Motor Group offset tariff headwinds through local production adjustments, market diversification and swift inventory drawdowns. Industry analysts attributed the group's outperformance to its agility in balancing electrified and internal combustion lineups while tightening cost controls across its global operations. Revenue for the group totaled 300.4 trillion won last year, dwarfed by Volkswagen's 321.9 billion euros but supported by margins that have steadily widened over the past several years. 2026-03-11 10:59:35 -
Hanwha Advanced Materials showcases lightweight composite solutions for EVs at global convention SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - Hanwha Advanced Materials is presenting a suite of lightweight composite solutions for electric vehicles at JEC World 2026, the world's largest composites exhibition running from Tuesday to Thursday in Paris, as the South Korean materials maker ramps up its push into the global mobility market. The company is exhibiting products designed to address two pivotal challenges in EV development — weight reduction and safety — including a lightweight seat cushion frame that trims mass compared with conventional metal components while retaining the strength and rigidity required for mass-produced vehicles. The proprietary frame, built on Hanwha's in-house composite design and processing technology, is engineered to boost fuel efficiency and extend driving range through structurally optimized design that cuts both thickness and weight without compromising crash safety or passenger protection. Hanwha is also unveiling EV-specific parts already in serial production, such as a front trunk, or frunk, and a composite truck bed for electric commercial vehicles. The parts leverage the moldability, impact resistance and corrosion resistance of composite materials to expand cargo space, enhance design flexibility and reduce overall vehicle weight. Among the flagship exhibits is a next-generation battery protection system comprising an underfloor structure and upper case, both currently under development. The integrated design reduces part count and achieves about 20 percent weight savings while incorporating materials technology capable of slowing thermal runaway propagation during battery fires, along with electromagnetic shielding. "This exhibition will serve as a venue to explore technical synergies with our global automaker partners in advancing the lightweight performance and safety of electric vehicles," a Hanwha Advanced Materials spokesperson said. "We will continue to propose practical composite-based solutions in step with the evolving mobility market and strengthen cooperation on the global stage." 2026-03-11 10:25:13 -
Celltrion launches Remsima liquid formulation in Europe, wins Nordic tenders SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - South Korean biosimilar giant Celltrion announced Wednesday it has launched a liquid formulation of its flagship infliximab treatment Remsima IV in Europe, securing government tender contracts in Denmark and Norway in an early push to tighten its grip on the continent's infliximab market. The new formulation, which received European Commission approval in November, is the world's only liquid version of intravenous infliximab. Available in 100 mg and 350 mg vials, it eliminates the reconstitution step required for conventional freeze-dried preparations, cutting drug preparation time by about 50 percent and reducing associated labor and supply costs by about 20 percent. Celltrion's Nordic subsidiary kicked off sales in Norway immediately after winning the national tender and will supply the product through January 2028. The company said it expects to capture about 35 percent of Norway's intravenous infliximab market through the contract. Storage space requirements for the liquid formulation are also up to 70 percent smaller than those for the powder version, an advantage that Celltrion said resonated with European hospital procurement officials. The rollout marks the latest step in Celltrion's drive to build what it calls a full lineup of infliximab delivery options spanning intravenous powder, intravenous liquid and subcutaneous formulations. The company has filed patents on the liquid formulation and completed registrations in major European markets including Britain, Germany and France. Remsima's combined IV and subcutaneous product lines held a 68 percent share of European infliximab prescriptions as of the third quarter of 2025, according to data firm IQVIA. Celltrion said it plans to extend the liquid formulation's commercial reach to France, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic later this year. "The liquid formulation has proved its competitiveness by winning tenders immediately after launch," said Baek Seung-du, regional manager of Celltrion's Nordic affiliate. "We will continue field-driven sales and marketing efforts to broaden prescriptions and offer better options to European patients and clinicians." 2026-03-11 09:50:10 -
Hormuz halt deepens crisis for Korea's petrochemical makers SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - South Korea's petroleum refining and petrochemical industries are bracing for a deepening "compound crisis" as the Middle East war sends crude oil, naphtha and liquefied natural gas prices surging while new labor regulations threaten to complicate urgently needed restructuring. The prolonged conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has sharply disrupted energy supply chains across Asia, with tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz grinding to a halt after Iran shut down the strategic waterway following joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. For South Korea — one of the world's largest importers of energy and petrochemical feedstock — the shock is hitting an industry already weakened by Chinese overcapacity and falling margins. About 54 percent of the country's naphtha imports and roughly 70 percent of its crude oil typically pass through the strait, leaving domestic refiners and petrochemical producers acutely exposed to a prolonged blockade. Naphtha prices have surged about 55 percent since the conflict escalated, jumping to $883.4 per metric ton on March 9 from $568.55 on Feb. 23, according to the Naphtha FOB Fujairah Cargo Assessment compiled by S&P Global Platts. Oil markets have also experienced extreme volatility. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate traded around $89.96 per barrel after swinging within a roughly $28 range, while global benchmark Brent crude stood at $88.87, sharply below an intraday peak of $119.50 reached earlier in the conflict. The disruption has pushed the East-West naphtha spread above $50 per ton for April contracts, more than $30 higher since the start of the year, reflecting mounting concerns over reduced Middle Eastern supply into Asia, which normally receives roughly 40 percent of global naphtha exports from the Gulf region. Forward structures have tightened sharply as well, with April–May timespreads widening by about $20 per ton in both Asian and European benchmarks, approaching levels last seen at the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. The market is increasingly pricing in shortages as buyers scramble to secure replacement cargoes from Europe and the United States. The supply shock is already forcing petrochemical producers to cut operating rates. Lotte Chemical plans to reduce utilization at its Daesan naphtha cracking center from about 80 percent to 70 percent, while also moving forward scheduled maintenance at its Yeosu plant by two weeks. LG Chem is lowering operating rates at its Daesan facility from 69 percent to about 54 percent and trimming output at its Yeosu complex. Korea Petrochemical is reviewing a reduction from 80 percent to roughly 75 percent at its Onsan plant. Yeochun NCC — a joint venture between Hanwha Solutions and DL Chemical and one of South Korea's largest ethylene producers — declared force majeure on March 4, warning customers that naphtha deliveries for March would be significantly delayed. Industry executives warn that the next month could prove decisive. Petrochemical companies typically maintain around one month of naphtha reserves, meaning prolonged disruptions could force deeper production cuts or temporary plant shutdowns. The squeeze is intensified by a structural pricing trap: surging feedstock costs cannot easily be passed on to buyers because persistent Chinese oversupply continues to depress prices for ethylene and downstream petrochemical products. Analysts say the pattern echoes the early phase of the Russia-Ukraine war, but the impact could prove more severe given Asia's heavier reliance on Middle Eastern feedstock. "If the war is not resolved within the next week, further price spikes are inevitable as inventories deplete and panic buying intensifies," said Yoon Jae-sung, an analyst at Hana Securities. "Should the disruption extend beyond two weeks, we could see a wave of plant shutdowns globally. Companies with lower dependence on Middle Eastern feedstock will be in a stronger position." LNG shock adds further energy pressure Energy costs are rising across the broader industrial system. Qatar, which accounts for about 20 percent of global LNG supply, halted production at its Ras Laffan facility after Iranian drone and missile strikes on March 2 and declared force majeure on exports two days later. Spot LNG prices surged 46 percent following the disruption. South Korea imports roughly 20 percent of its LNG from the Middle East, largely under long-term contracts, but replacement volumes on the spot market are now significantly more expensive. "It is the global supply-demand balance that determines LNG prices," said Roh Nam-jin, senior researcher at the Korea Energy Economics Institute. "Even though South Korea relies relatively less on Middle Eastern LNG compared with oil, a broad increase in LNG prices will inevitably affect the domestic energy market." About half of South Korea's imported LNG is used for electricity generation, which accounts for roughly 30 percent of national power output, meaning higher LNG costs could eventually push up industrial electricity prices. Restructuring gains momentum but faces new obstacles The crisis comes as the petrochemical sector is already undergoing a painful restructuring. Hanwha Solutions and DL Chemical recently agreed to shut down two of Yeochun NCC's three plants, reducing ethylene capacity from 2.3 million tons annually to about 900,000 tons. The remaining operations will later merge with Lotte Chemical's Yeosu complex, which has annual capacity of 1.23 million tons, to form a new joint venture expected this year. Hanwha Solutions, DL Chemical and Lotte Chemical are negotiating an equal 33 percent ownership structure, while Hanwha and DL have pledged 500 billion won to cover Yeochun NCC's outstanding borrowings. The restructuring follows the government-backed "Daesan No.1 Project," which merged operations between Lotte Chemical and HD Hyundai Chemical with a 2.1 trillion won ($1.42 billion) support package. Yeochun NCC's financial position had deteriorated rapidly even before the war. Its operating losses widened from 150.3 billion won in 2024 to 198.9 billion won in the first nine months of 2025, leaving the company close to default last year. The government approved financial support for the Daesan restructuring on Feb. 25 and is expected to extend similar backing for the Yeosu plan. Labor law adds uncertainty to industry overhaul But the restructuring process now faces a new complication. South Korea's revised labor union law — widely known as the Yellow Envelope Law — takes effect Tuesday, expanding the scope of legally permissible labor disputes to include corporate restructuring and business reorganization. The law also allows subcontractor unions to demand collective bargaining directly with parent companies, a provision that could complicate plant closures or workforce reductions at petrochemical complexes that rely heavily on subcontracted labor. Industry officials warn that the convergence of war-driven feedstock shocks, structural overcapacity and regulatory uncertainty leaves the sector with limited room to maneuver. If the Hormuz blockade persists and feedstock inventories run out, utilization rates at domestic naphtha cracking centers could fall below 60 percent, with ripple effects spreading across downstream industries including electronics, automotive manufacturing, construction materials and consumer goods. 2026-03-10 15:46:15 -
LG CNS invests in U.S. robotics firm Dexmate, broadening humanoid hardware lineup SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - South Korean IT solutions provider LG CNS said it has made a strategic investment in Dexmate, a Silicon Valley-based robotics startup, marking the first such deal by a Korean company with the U.S. firm. The investment, announced Tuesday, was channeled through LG Technology Ventures, the conglomerate's corporate venture capital arm. Dexmate, founded by PhDs from MIT, UC San Diego and Carnegie Mellon University, manufactures humanoid robots whose hardware has been adopted as a standard research platform by global robotics AI developers. Its flagship model, Vega, forgoes bipedal legs in favor of an omnidirectional wheeled base, a design choice that prioritizes stability and endurance over human-like locomotion for industrial use. The robot features 36 degrees of freedom and dual arms capable of carrying a combined payload of about 15 kilograms, with a single charge sustaining more than 20 hours of continuous operation. Its wheeled lower body offers a more stable platform than bipedal counterparts, making it well-suited for deployment in logistics centers and manufacturing plants. The deal expands LG CNS' robot hardware portfolio to include wheeled humanoids alongside bipedal and quadruped models it had already secured. The company said it plans to bundle the hardware with a robot foundation model and its proprietary operation and training platform to offer what it calls a "full-stack RX service" for industrial clients. "This investment is a strategic move to organically combine robot hardware, foundation models and our platform to enable large-scale robot operations and accelerate deployment across industrial sites," said Lee Jun-ho, head of LG CNS' smart logistics & city business division. 2026-03-10 10:05:12 -
Korea and India beef up institutional financing to prepare for expanding business ties SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - Institutional financing links between South Korea and India are gaining traction as the world's most populous nation accelerates economic expansion and seeks advanced manufacturing capabilities in sectors ranging from small modular nuclear reactors to defense and shipbuilding. A closed-door investor relations conference jointly hosted by SK Securities and India's ICICI Group in Seoul on Monday underscored the growing momentum. The event drew major Korean institutional investors including Korea Investment & Securities, Mirae Asset Securities and the National Pension Service, alongside prominent Indian conglomerates such as the Adani Group. "There is a lot of complementarity between the two countries' industries," said Patrick Han, head of global business at SK Securities. "Financial institutions can play a key role in facilitating foreign direct investment and industrial cooperation." India, now the world's fifth-largest economy with a gross domestic product of roughly $4.1 trillion, has emerged as an increasingly attractive destination for Korean capital. The United Nations projects the country's economy will expand about 6.6 percent in 2026, maintaining its position as the fastest-growing major economy. Despite the momentum, economic ties remain relatively underdeveloped compared with their potential. Trade between the two countries reached about $26.9 billion in the 2024–25 fiscal year, according to combined data from Seoul and New Delhi. For India, South Korea ranks as a mid-tier trading partner. For Korea, however, the Indian market still accounts for only around 3 percent of total exports — far behind its major destinations such as China, the United States and Vietnam. Similarly, Korean investment in India remains modest. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs and the India Brand Equity Foundation, cumulative Korean foreign direct investment in India has totaled roughly $6.7 billion since 2000, placing Korea around the 13th-largest investor. A broader estimate by the Indian government suggests cumulative investment may be closer to $10 billion, with about $929 million flowing into India in 2024 alone. Market participants say the relatively low base leaves significant room for expansion as both economies seek to diversify supply chains and investment partnerships. Nuclear sector opens new opportunities One area drawing particular interest from investors is India's newly liberalized nuclear energy sector. India's parliament passed legislation in December 2025 allowing private companies for the first time to participate in the country's nuclear power industry, opening the door for foreign investors and technology providers. Frederick Peter Jones, co-founder of Fairwood Nuclear and a veteran energy executive who previously served as a strategic adviser to the president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, attended the conference specifically to explore investment opportunities related to small modular reactors. "India is very interested in SMRs and all forms of energy, including green energy like solar and wind," Jones said. "Energy demand is enormous, and the country is looking at every possible option." India has allocated 20,000 crore rupees, or about $2.16 billion, for SMR research and development under a new Nuclear Energy Mission. The government aims to deploy at least five domestically developed SMRs by 2033. Defense cooperation deepens The conference also highlighted expanding opportunities in the defense sector, where Korean technology has gained increasing attention following renewed tensions along the India-Pakistan border. India is preparing to induct an additional 100 K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace, reflecting deepening defense ties between the two countries. Korean companies have also demonstrated the viability of the Indian capital market through successful listings. Shares of LG Electronics India surged about 50 percent on their market debut in October 2025 after the initial public offering attracted the strongest investor demand for an Indian listing since 2008. Hyundai Motor India had earlier raised about $3.3 billion in October 2024 in what was then India's largest-ever IPO. Shipbuilding emerges as another pillar Shipbuilding is emerging as another promising area for bilateral industrial cooperation. Korean shipbuilders are exploring potential technology transfers for conventional vessels such as tankers and bulk carriers to Indian partners, potentially providing an alternative to China's dominance in the segment. In an interview with AJP earlier this year, Indian Ambassador to South Korea Gourangalal Das said New Delhi is actively seeking Korean expertise to build up its domestic shipbuilding industry. "There is huge demand for ships in India," Das said. "Korea brings a lot of value in terms of technology and competence, and it is a trusted partner." India is backing that ambition with one of its most comprehensive industrial policy drives in decades. Under the country's Union Budget announced last year, New Delhi unveiled a large-scale shipbuilding support program combining financing assistance, cost subsidies and cluster-based industrial development. The initiative is aligned with the government's long-term road maps — Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 — which aim to position India among the world's top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030 and among the top five by 2047. Infrastructure hurdles remain Despite growing financial and industrial cooperation, logistical barriers remain. One persistent obstacle is the lack of direct air connections between the two countries' major business centers. There are currently no direct flights between Mumbai and Seoul, forcing travelers to transit through hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok. Industry officials say improving connectivity could significantly boost financial and business exchanges. The partnership between SK Securities and ICICI Group is expected to extend beyond financial services. Follow-up meetings scheduled this week will involve major Korean conglomerates in industries including automobiles, shipbuilding, semiconductors and batteries as both sides explore new investment and technology partnerships. The discussions also come ahead of a state visit to India that New Delhi is organizing for later this year, according to Ambassador Das. 2026-03-09 17:37:41 -
Webtoon Entertainment's simultaneous global releases boost revenue by up to 200% in piracy fight SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - Webtoon Entertainment, a Naver-controlled company, announced that a pilot program releasing Korean-language webcomics simultaneously across global markets drove payment revenue up by as much as 200 percent, underscoring the platform's intensifying campaign to claw back earnings lost to piracy. The Nasdaq-listed company said Monday that it had tested the initiative on four original Korean titles — including "Childhood Friend Complex" — that are serialized in English, French, Thai and Indonesian. By aligning global release dates with the Korean-language service for series returning from hiatuses of five months to a year, the platform eliminated translation delays that had long left overseas readers reliant on pirate sites for the latest chapters. The results showed that "Childhood Friend Complex" recorded the sharpest surge at about 208 percent in global payment revenue compared to its eight-week pre-hiatus average, other top webtoons following the spike as well. Weekly readership also climbed across all four titles, with "Lee Seop's Romance" posting the highest gain at 82 percent. The company attributed the gains largely to the absorption of paying users who had previously turned to unlicensed translation sites during the gap between Korean and global publication. Titles typically struggle to recover pre-hiatus readership and revenue levels after prolonged breaks, making the immediate rebound all the more notable. "Simultaneous releases demand close collaboration between creators and the platform," Kim Yong-soo, president of Webtoon Entertainment, said. "We will build a fast, efficient translation support system to minimize the burden on creators while working to protect the revenue that has been siphoned off by illegal sites." The simultaneous release strategy operates in tandem with Webtoon Entertainment's proprietary anti-piracy technology, Toon Radar, which uses artificial intelligence to embed invisible identifiers in webtoon images and track unauthorized distribution. The company said the number of titles illegally copied on the day of their official release fell by about 80 percent as of November compared to the average for the first three quarters of the year. 2026-03-09 11:33:47 -
World-OKTA wraps up entrepreneurship training for global AI startup hopefuls SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - The World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations (World-OKTA) said on Monday it has completed a four-day online entrepreneurship training program designed to sharpen the skills of aspiring founders ahead of its 2026 OKTA Global AI Startup Pitch Competition slated for March 31 in Seoul. Faculty from UC Berkeley, Stanford University and San Jose State University, alongside active venture capital professionals based in Silicon Valley, delivered six sessions spanning AI-driven idea discovery, venture capital investment structures, AI business model design and emerging trends in AI agent technology. "Graduates of this program will receive certificates and be invited to the hybrid-format finals of the Global Startup Competition on March 30," said Sun Park, World-OKTA's branch president of Atlanta. "We also plan to establish a World-OKTA global startup alumni network so that participants can continue to grow as a lasting entrepreneurial community." The initiative builds on the momentum of World-OKTA's inaugural startup competition held in Incheon's Songdo last October, where about 100 startups participated and overseas venture capitalists committed a combined $600,000 in investment. Among the recipients, hydrogen alternative energy developer Viologen secured $500,000 and sleep apnea biotech firm MD Staage raised $100,000. This year's competition, to be held at COEX Magok Convention Center in western Seoul, aims to identify and nurture innovative AI startups led by Korean entrepreneurs worldwide and connect them with global investors and market opportunities. 2026-03-09 10:56:26 -
Celltrion solidifies biosimilar dominance across key Asian markets SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - Celltrion has tightened its grip on major Asian biosimilar markets, with several of its flagship products commanding leading market shares in Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia, buoyed by an aggressive direct-sales push and a steady pipeline of new launches. Data from IQVIA showed that Celltrion's autoimmune treatment Remsima (infliximab) held the top prescription spot across all four markets as of the third quarter of 2025, capturing 93 percent of the market in Singapore, 77 percent in Hong Kong, 73 percent in Thailand and 65 percent in Malaysia. The company's oncology portfolio has also gained considerable traction. Breast and gastric cancer treatment Herzuma (trastuzumab) secured market shares of 87 percent in Thailand, 57 percent in Hong Kong and 51 percent in Malaysia, while blood cancer drug Truxima (rituximab) held 90 percent in Singapore and 79 percent in Thailand — all ranking first in their respective categories. In Singapore, Celltrion's adalimumab biosimilar Yuflyma has overtaken the original biologic to claim the second-highest market share. The company's Singapore unit plans to roll out a 20mg dosage of Yuflyma alongside the existing 40mg option ahead of upcoming adalimumab tenders, aiming to widen its competitive edge. Celltrion has also launched Yuflyma in Malaysia and Thailand. Celltrion's Thai subsidiary has forged long-term partnerships with every university hospital in the country, where Remsima, Truxima and Herzuma are now used as the sole biosimilar in each of their categories. The firm is broadening its product lineup across the region, with plans to secure approval for Stoboclo-Osenvelt (denosumab) in Singapore this year and to introduce three new products — Steqeyma (ustekinumab), Vegzelma (bevacizumab) and Omlyclo (omalizumab) — in Thailand. "We are elevating prescription outcomes on the back of product competitiveness and supply stability in Asia's tender-driven markets, and positive perceptions of Celltrion products are spreading rapidly," a company spokesperson said. "We will devote our full efforts to deepening the performance of existing products while ensuring the timely launch of new ones." 2026-03-09 10:16:21 -
Korean makers bet on ultra high-nickel batteries to challenge China's supremacy SEOUL, March 06 (AJP) - South Korea is positioning ultra high-nickel batteries as its trump card in the global battery war, betting that a widening technology gap with China and fresh regulatory tailwinds from Europe will reshape the competitive landscape for premium electric vehicles and humanoid robots. The push comes at a pivotal moment, with the European Union this week unveiling its Industrial Acceleration Act (IAA) — a policy framework that effectively erects a double-layered protective barrier around Europe's clean-technology industries. The Middle East conflict, now entering its second week, has also introduced an unexpected variable. Brent crude has surged more than 36 percent this year, a shock that could accelerate the global shift toward electrification and sharpen demand for the high-density batteries in which Korean manufacturers specialize. The technology gap At the center of Korea's strategy is ultra high-nickel cathode technology — batteries in which nickel content exceeds 94 percent. These cells deliver 30 to 40 percent higher energy density than the widely used NCM 811 standard, translating into longer driving ranges for electric vehicles and extended operational hours for robots. South Korean cathode maker L&F became the first company in the world to mass-produce cathode materials with 95 percent nickel content late last year, and is now pushing toward 97 percent. Chinese battery giants CATL, CALB and EVE Energy, by contrast, have yet to overcome yield challenges above 90 percent nickel. Korean battery executives estimate the technology gap at more than two years — a margin that widens further when combined with Korea's head start in 46-series cylindrical cell formats. Tesla and the humanoid robot catalyst Tesla's decision to adopt ultra high-nickel cells for its premium lineup has handed Korean suppliers a powerful tailwind. The U.S. automaker has been scaling back its in-house battery production efforts and increasingly sourcing finished cells from partners. The shift effectively ended Tesla's direct cathode procurement from L&F but redirected demand through LG Energy Solution. LG Energy Solution began shipping batteries made with L&F's ultra high-nickel cathode materials to Tesla in the second half of last year, with the cells powering the Model Y Long Range and other premium variants. Tesla also plans to equip its Optimus humanoid robot with high-nickel cells, adding a new layer of demand. The arrangement has reshaped traditional supply hierarchies. LG Energy Solution selected L&F over its own parent company LG Chem as a cathode supplier, because L&F was the only producer capable of delivering ultra high-nickel materials at commercial scale. The humanoid robot market could amplify that advantage. TrendForce forecasts global shipments of humanoid robots will exceed 50,000 units this year, representing more than 700 percent year-on-year growth, with high-nickel ternary lithium batteries expected to dominate the segment. By contrast, LFP batteries, which dominate the low-cost EV market, lack the energy density required for bipedal machines that must fit batteries into compact torso or backpack compartments. That limitation gives Korean NCM battery makers a natural advantage — even in China's fast-growing robotics market. Europe tightens the screws The EU's Industrial Acceleration Act adds another strategic dimension. Under the legislation, industries in which a single non-EU country holds more than 40 percent of global manufacturing capacity face strict investment conditions — a provision widely interpreted as targeting China. Korea's big three battery makers — LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On — all operate production facilities in Europe, putting them in a stronger position than Chinese competitors facing dual regulatory scrutiny. Korean manufacturers once held roughly 80 percent of Europe's EV battery market in 2022, but that share has since dropped to about 35 percent. Industry observers say the IAA could trigger a supply-chain reorganization that allows Korean players to reclaim part of the lost ground. "Hyundai, Kia and Korean battery makers with European plants are expected to expand their market share, and exports from Korean factories are also likely to increase," said Chang Jung-hoon, analyst at Samsung Securities. "Unlike the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, the IAA treats FTA partner countries on equal footing with EU members. Companies simply need to keep sourcing from any single country — namely China — below 40 percent," Chang said. "The legislation also requires EU-origin battery cells, which will pressure Chinese firms seeking to expand capacity in Europe but benefits Korean companies that have already established meaningful local production." Middle East war and the bigger picture The escalating Middle East conflict adds another layer of uncertainty. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of globally traded crude oil flows, has become an active flashpoint. China, India, Japan and South Korea together account for nearly 70 percent of shipments through the strait. Historically, rising oil prices strengthen the economic case for electrification. But the conflict may also dampen China's EV export momentum. Lithium prices in China have fallen sharply amid weakening demand expectations, even as Morgan Stanley forecasts a global lithium supply deficit of about 80,000 metric tons this year. Still, the near-term picture remains challenging for South Korea. Data released by SNE Research showed global EV battery usage reached 71.9 gigawatt-hours in January, up 10.7 percent year-on-year, but Korea's three major battery makers all recorded negative growth. Their combined global market share fell 4.3 percentage points to 12.0 percent, dragged down in part by a 30.2 percent slump in U.S. EV sales after purchase subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act expired in late September. Supply volumes from SK On and Samsung SDI fell 21.3 percent and 24.4 percent respectively. By contrast, CATL expanded installed capacity by 25.7 percent, lifting its market share to 45.2 percent for the month. Despite China's dominance in volume, some analysts say the longer-term trajectory could look different. SNE Research argues the battery market is shifting away from a pure volume-driven competition toward a phase where price competitiveness, product value and supply-chain stability must be balanced — a dynamic that could ultimately favor Korea's strength in premium high-density batteries. Market projections point in the same direction. The global high-nickel cathode materials market is expected to expand from $7.27 billion in 2025 to $22.26 billion by 2034, according to Precedence Research. "The high-nickel market is in a bit of a lull right now. LFP still dominates segments such as energy storage, where cost and stability matter most," said Kim Ki-jae, professor of battery science and engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. "High-nickel cells could come into their own once the humanoid robot market opens up in earnest — but the real game has not started yet." 2026-03-06 14:07:01