Kumho Petrochemical posted 271.8 billion won in 2025 operating profit on a consolidated basis, a 0.4 percent year-on-year drop, according to preliminary figures released in a public filing on Jan. 29.
The company chalked up 6,915.1 billion won in 2025 sales and 292.2 billion in 2025 net profit, representing a 3.4 percent year-on-year drop and a 16.2 percent year-on-year plunge, respectively.
The company saw Q4 operating profit decline to 1.5 billion won, an 84.8 percent year-on-year plunge. Kumho Petrochemical saw 2025 Q4 sales stand at 1,589.7 billion won, a 12 percent year-on-year decline.
By business, the synthetic rubber business division saw Q4 sales and Q4 operating profit amount to 607.3 billion won and 15.8 billion won, respectively.
The division saw Q4 operating profit decline compared to the previous quarter due to a waiting attitude for purchase, caused by year-end market demand decline and raw material price drop.
The synthetic fiber business division logged 266.2 billion in Q4 sales and 9.5 billion in Q4 operating losses due to declining spread of major products in the off-season compared to the previous quarter and dropping profitability.
The phenol derivative business division, which posted 14.4 billion in operating losses in the previous quarter, saw losses widen to 22.3 billion in the fourth quarter last year.
The division chalked up 364.5 billion in Q4 sakes. It saw profitability decline due to Bisphenol A (BPA) maintenance and product demand delay.
A Kumho Petrochemical official said, “Product selling price hikes were limited compared to raw material price increases, caused by global supply glut, and some one-time costs had a negative impact on its business. Mainstay products, such as synthetic rubber maintained solid profits, but petrochemical products in the whole of the industry were constantly influenced by declining product demand.”
“As declining demand of the forward industry and raw material price hikes are expected to be maintained in the first quarter of this year, predicting of business performances is not possible, and we will concentrate our capabilities to expand profitability by continuing to explore R&D and marketing strategies centering around our mainstay specialty products.”
President Baek Jong-hoon of Kumho Petrochemical poses with Vice MOTIR Minister Moon Shinhak after he received the Order of Industrial Service Merit, Silver Tower at a ceremony to celebrate the 17th Anniversary of Chemical Industry Day at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul on Oct. 31. (Photo: MOTIR)
Kumho Petrochemical President Baek Jong-hoon Honored with Order of Industrial Service Merit, Silver Tower
President Baek Jong-hoon of Kumho Petrochemical received the Order of Industrial Service Merit, Silver Tower at a ceremony to celebrate the 17th Anniversary of Chemical Industry Day at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul on Oct. 31.
Chemical Industry Day has been observed annually since 2009 to celebrate the dedication of the Ulsan Petrochemical Complex on Oct. 31, 1972.
Orders and other government prizes are presented to those who have contributed to the continuous development and growth of the chemical industry.
President Baek held positions such as head of the business division at Kumho Petrochemical after entering the predecessor company of Kumho B&P Chemical in 1988 before taking office as president of Kumho Petrochemical.
He has been with the petrochemical industry for 39 years.
Amid a declining global economy, Kumho Petrochemical has been credited with having logged an annual average of 7.6 percent in operating margin since 2022 through last year by shifting its business portfolio and focusing on value-added specialty products.
In particular, amid continued uncertainties, such the global pandemic, disruption of global supply chain, global supply glut and declining demand and tariff burden, President Baek has been lauded for having built a companywide crisis management regime and laying a foundation for sustainable management by demonstrating a strong leadership.
The company has been establishing and putting into practice five strategies to respond to climate change and realize sustainable management – clean energy transition, eco-friendly product shift, bio-base fuel transition, expanding of recycling and asset management digital transformation.
Kumho Petrochemical has so far obtained the international eco-friendly ISCC Plus certification on five worksites and 17 product groups.
The company has ramped up a resources circulation production system by establishing a bio raw material supply chain.
Last year, Kumho Petrochemical built a carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) facility designed to collect carbon from a combined power cycle plant in the Yeosu National Industrial Complex.
It is capable of collecting about 76,000 tons of carbon annually at full operation, the transitioning it into liquid carbon dioxide and thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Kumho Petrochemical President Baek said, “I’ve been honored with the Order of Industrial Service Merit in recognition of contributing to the development of the chemical industry and ramping up national competitiveness, and we will do our utmost to contribute to the development of the chemical industry based on expertise and experiences we’ve have accumulated in both and industry sites and management sectors.”
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