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StocksMedium•9 November 2026•
1 min read

South Korean Petrochemical Giants Post 522.5 Billion Won Combined Q3 Operating Loss

Key Facts

1Four major South Korean petrochemical companies posted a combined operating loss of 522.5 billion won in the third quarter.
2Losses widened sharply from a 28.1 billion won loss a year earlier as war-driven windfall profits evaporated.

Four major South Korean petrochemical companies posted a combined operating loss of 522.5 billion won in the third quarter of 2026. Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the losses, which included Lotte Chemical and LG Chem, widened sharply from a 28.1 billion won loss recorded in the same period last year.

The downturn followed the evaporation of windfall profits previously driven by the Strait of Hormuz blockage, alongside high naphtha costs and Chinese oversupply that squeezed industry margins. In a broader economic context, South Korea's annual inflation rate was reported at 2.8% on November 2, 2026, slightly below the forecasted 2.9%.

South Korea is scheduled to release its latest unemployment rate data on November 10, 2026, with market forecasts expecting a rate of 2.8% compared to the previous 2.6%.