Hydrogen fluoride, exports to South Korea decrease The movement to hint at the Japanese side

In July, the export volume of chemical substance “hydrogen fluoride” used for semiconductor manufacturing to South Korea decreased by 80% from the previous month. This is thought to be due to the strengthening of export restrictions on three semiconductor-related items launched on July 4. For semiconductor manufacturing, only Korean core industries are worried about “going away from Japan” in terms of procurement.

It became clear in the July trade statistics (final report) released by the Ministry of Finance on the 29th. In July, hydrogen fluoride exports to Korea amounted to 479 tons, a decrease of 83.7% from the previous month. Compared to the same month last year, it decreased by 84.8%. It has been around 3,000 tons every month for the past year, which is a fairly low level.

On the other hand, the export value was 497 million yen, down 32.6% from the previous month (down 35.6% from the same month last year). The average price divided by the amount of exports jumped more than four times compared to the previous month. Transaction prices may have risen due to concerns over shortages.

With the strengthening of export restrictions for three items such as hydrogen fluoride to South Korea, the export procedure for domestic companies has become complicated, and in principle, the approval of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is required for each export contract. It takes up to 90 days to obtain permission.

I don't know how much exports contain products with a concentration of more than 30%, but the person in charge of Stella Chemifa (Osaka City), which produces hydrogen fluoride, said, “Applications for applications after July 4th. There hasn't been any permission yet, and inevitably shipments have dropped. " Morita Chemical Co., Ltd. is also in a similar situation. Most of the hydrogen fluoride exported to Korea is from these two companies.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has not disclosed the status of export licenses for hydrogen fluoride.

The other two products, which are also stricter, are grouped in the same category as other items in terms of trade statistics, and their export volume and value cannot be specified.

According to the Korea Trade Association, Korea's dependence on hydrogen fluoride is over 40%. The Korean government is willing to invest domestically and promote domestic production of these materials. “The Korean industry's“ leaving away from Japan ”will progress in the medium to long term,” said Hidehiko Mukaiyama, senior researcher at the Japan Research Institute.

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