YMCC is showing strong performance. The price surge caused by China's export controls on gallium has brought silicon carbide (SiC), an alternative material, into the spotlight, highlighting YMCC's silicon carbide manufacturing technology.
As of 9:12 AM on the 28th, YMCC is trading at 6,920 KRW, up 5.49% from the previous day.
According to industry sources the day before, as of the 20th, the benchmark price of gallium for the US and European markets was $332.5 per kilogram, about 18% higher than at the end of June, just before China announced export regulations. On the 3rd, China's Ministry of Commerce announced that, to protect national security and interests, it would control exports of gallium and germanium-related items starting August 1. In 2021, China accounted for 97.7% of global gallium production.
Gallium is used in semiconductors for blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). It is also gaining attention as a new material for power semiconductors responsible for power conversion in electric vehicles and smart grids because it can suppress power loss better than silicon, which dominates semiconductor materials.
Gallium is widely used in inverters for electric vehicles. As a result, there are expectations that automakers might replace gallium nitride with silicon carbide, which has slightly lower performance.
Meanwhile, YMCC produces key process components used in semiconductors and displays. The company has developed high-strength, high-purity ceramics and silicon carbide materials.
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