韩石化业多元化之路“学步”未稳

Group 1 - The competitiveness of developed countries in the general (basic) products sector is declining, with South Korean petrochemical companies struggling to maintain their competitive edge against the aggressive advances from other Asian regions [1] - German and Japanese petrochemical companies have successfully adjusted their strategies towards diversification, focusing on high-value-added products such as batteries and functional materials [1][2] - BASF, the world's largest petrochemical company, has reduced its share of general products from 42% in 2005 to 17% in 2022, while expanding into electric vehicle batteries [1] Group 2 - Japanese petrochemical companies have improved their performance through proactive restructuring, supported by government policies that facilitate mergers and acquisitions [2] - From 2001 to 2023, the average R&D expenditure of Japan's six major petrochemical companies was 3.9% of sales, compared to only 0.9% for South Korea's four major petrochemical companies [2] - South Korean petrochemical companies are now focusing on launching high-value-added products, with LG Chem and Lotte Chemical developing advanced materials such as high-performance PVC and ABS [3] Group 3 - The South Korean petrochemical industry is urged to implement government-led integration and restructuring, along with substantial R&D investments to enhance competitiveness [3]