[Market Focus] Sama Aluminium Rises as Toyota Emerges as Major Shareholder Amid US Tariff Risks

Collaboration with Toyota of Japan
Anticipation of Benefits from Ongoing Korea-US Tariff Negotiations

Sama Aluminium's stock price is showing strong performance. This is interpreted as favorable due to its collaboration with Japanese companies that have already reached an agreement in tariff negotiations, while negotiations between Korea and the United States have yet to be concluded. Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan has invested in Sama Aluminium through its affiliate, becoming a major shareholder, and is reportedly pursuing cooperation in the United States.

As of 10:48 a.m. on the 25th, Sama Aluminium's stock price had risen by 6.70% from the previous day, reaching 22,400 won.

The collaboration with Japanese companies that have already completed negotiations is being highlighted, as Korea has not yet finalized its tariff negotiations with the United States.

On the 23rd, Japan agreed to lower the tariff rate on automobile exports to the United States from the previous 25% to 12.5%. With the existing 2.5% tariff added, the final tariff rate will be 15%. This is the first case of a negotiation in the automobile industry following the implementation of the low tariff quota (TQP) negotiated by the United Kingdom in early June.

The day after the announcement of the US-Japan trade agreement, Toyota issued a statement saying, "We hope that the environment surrounding the automobile industries of both Japan and the United States will continue to improve based on fair and open trade, including further tariff reductions."

As a result, Sama Aluminium's close collaboration with Toyota has come into focus. In 2023, Toyota, through its affiliate Toyota Tsusho, participated as a strategic investor (SI) in Sama Aluminium's paid-in capital increase. At that time, Toyota Tsusho acquired a 10.2% stake in Sama Aluminium together with LG Energy Solution. This is regarded as the first case of Toyota investing in a Korean materials company. Toyota Tsusho, a general trading company within the Toyota Group, mainly operates in the procurement of automotive parts and is also engaged in secondary battery-related businesses.

Subsequently, Sama Aluminium reportedly began building an aluminum foil plant in the United States together with the Toyota Group. Thin aluminum foil, known as cathode foil, is a key material for secondary batteries. As Toyota Motor Corporation began producing electric vehicle batteries directly in the United States, it selected Sama Aluminium as its partner.