[Special Stock] Sempio Foods Hits 52-Week High Amid Salt Shortage Signs

Sempio Foods has been on the rise for two consecutive trading days. This is due to a 'panic buying' level of sales of salt, including sea salt, following Japan's announcement of its plan to discharge contaminated water from Fukushima.

On the 7th, interest in sea salt surged following Japan's plan to discharge contaminated water from its nuclear power plant, leading to panic buying. Salt is being sold at a large supermarket in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

As of 9:11 a.m. on the 19th, Sempio Foods is trading at 46,850 KRW, up 13.85% from the previous trading day. On the same day, the company's stock price surged to 49,050 KRW during the session, setting a new 52-week high. On the 16th, Sempio Foods also saw a sharp intraday rise, breaking the 40,000 KRW mark for the first time in over a year and reaching a new high.

It is estimated that the positive reflection on the stock price is due to Sempio Foods securing supply chains both domestically and from imports such as Australia, which is expected to stabilize salt supply and demand.

Currently, at major supermarkets, salt including sea salt is being sold rapidly following the news of Japan's Fukushima contaminated water discharge plan. According to the distribution industry, salt sales at E-Mart from the 1st to the 14th of this month increased by 55.6% compared to the same period last year, and sea salt sales rose by 118.5%. Some supermarkets have reportedly limited salt purchases per person.