KemtroNics is showing strong performance. The news that it recorded an operating profit of 12.5 billion KRW in the first quarter of this year, turning profitable compared to the same period last year, appears to be influencing its stock price.
As of 11:32 AM on the 16th, KemtroNics is trading at 34,850 KRW, up 22.28% from the previous day.
According to the quarterly report, on a consolidated basis, it recorded sales of 147.5 billion KRW and an operating profit of 12.5 billion KRW in the first quarter. Sales increased by 12% compared to the same period last year, and operating profit turned positive.
KemtroNics succeeded in pilot production of PGMEA (Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether Acetate), a key material composing photoresist (PR) used in the semiconductor extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process, with a purity of 99.999% (5N), and is currently mass-producing it. Final customer quality approval processes are underway to begin full-scale mass production from the first half of this year.
PGMEA is a representative solvent used in semiconductor manufacturing, produced as a thinner for semiconductors, and serves to wash away photoresist material that remains on areas not exposed during the lithography process. KemtroNics explains that its PGMEA competitiveness lies in its 5N-grade purity, which significantly reduces defects caused by metallic residues during lithography. They also highlight a major achievement in securing eco-friendliness.
PGMEA contains a potentially toxic substance called 'isomer (beta-isomer),' and global companies require the isomer concentration to be below 10 ppm (parts per million). KemtroNics has achieved reducing the beta-isomer content to about 1.5 ppm.
KemtroNics’ PGMEA synthesis competitiveness is characterized by its 5N ultra-high purity and the presence of metallic impurities only in ultra-trace amounts measured in ppb (parts per billion). This prevents light scattering and refraction caused by metallic impurities during the lithography process, contributing to yield improvement.
Namgung Hyun, a researcher at Shinhan Investment Corp., said, "We expect semiconductor business expansion to become visible with the passing of PR-grade PGMEA quality tests and aggressive supply chain establishment by glass substrate companies leading to entry into the TGV process." He added, "They also have growth drivers with preparations for mass production of 8th generation hybrid OLEDs by the end of the year." He estimated sales of 622.4 billion KRW and operating profit of 52.9 billion KRW for this year.
Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics is leading the foundry market in sub-3nm ultra-fine processes based on EUV technology and plans to mass-produce 6th generation 10nm-class DRAM applying EUV processes within this year. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited ZEISS headquarters in Oberkochen, Germany last month and met with CEO Carl Lamprecht and other executives to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two companies. ZEISS exclusively supplies the optical systems mounted on ASML’s EUV equipment. Samsung Electronics has agreed to further expand cooperation with ZEISS in EUV technology and advanced semiconductor equipment fields going forward.
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