【South Korea 】Lotte Chemical Targets Global Market with High-Value Specialty, Battery, and Recycled Materials

Lotte Chemical is accelerating its global expansion by showcasing high-value specialty, battery, and recycled materials at Europe's largest plastics trade fair K 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The move signals a strategic shift from commodity chemicals to technology-driven, sustainable solutions, directly relevant for overseas buyers seeking advanced polymers, battery components, and circular-economy feedstocks.

K 2025 highlights: specialty and battery materials

At K 2025, Lotte Chemical operated four main zones to demonstrate the application scope of its high-value materials. The Mobility Zone featured advanced plastics for electric vehicles, focusing on lightweight, heat-resistant, and flame-retardant properties. The ECOSEED Zone displayed recycled products for cosmetics packaging, home appliances, and wrapping materials, emphasizing resource-circulation technology. The Advanced Technologies Zone introduced core lithium-ion battery materials and raw materials for semiconductors and displays, aiming to strengthen collaboration with global customers.

Battery materials expansion and European supply chain

Battery materials are a key growth pillar. Lotte Chemical plans to double production capacity for electrolyte derivatives and high-purity organic solvents by 2026 through its subsidiary Lotte Energy Materials. The company is expanding its European supply chain from its Hungary plant, targeting 5 trillion won in battery material sales by 2030. This expansion is critical for overseas battery manufacturers and EV supply-chain participants seeking reliable, high-purity inputs.

Hydrogen and circular economy initiatives

Lotte Chemical is building a hydrogen value chain, operating the Daesan hydrogen loading center and the Ulsan hydrogen fuel cell power plant. A joint venture with SK Gas and Air Liquide Korea, Lotte SK Enert, has started commercial operation of the Ulsan Hydrogen Power Plant No. 2. In circular economy, the company is constructing a demonstration plant in Ulsan to recycle waste plastics into pyrolysis oil, targeting completion by 2027. It plans to increase recycled PET production to over 200,000 tons by 2030 and expand chemical recycling and bio-based plastics.

Compliance and logistics signals: LCA system for EU regulations

Lotte Chemical is expanding its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) management system to support customers' carbon neutrality goals. The advanced materials business has operated an LCA calculation system across all domestic and overseas processes since 2021, and the basic materials domestic sites completed LCA implementation in the first half of this year. The company provides product-specific LCA declarations to help customers proactively comply with EU Ecodesign regulations and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

What buyers should watch

Industry analysts view Lotte Chemical's high-value strategy as a technology-driven transformation rather than a short-term response to market cycles. The company is moving away from low-price competition toward differentiated material technology and sustainability. With Europe's high-value materials market expanding around lightweight composites and high-performance plastics, and EU policies supporting this trend, overseas buyers should monitor Lotte Chemical's evolving portfolio for potential supply opportunities in specialty polymers, battery materials, and certified recycled feedstocks. > A Lotte Chemical official stated: "Based on functional specialty materials and technology, we will propose optimal customized solutions for customers and further strengthen our global network."

Source: Read the original report | Published: October 13, 2025