1. What Happened? : KTI’s H1 2025 Earnings Breakdown

KTI’s H1 2025 earnings missed market estimates. Revenue and operating profit decreased year-over-year to ₩380.3 billion and ₩36.8 billion, respectively. Net income saw a significant drop to ₩17.5 billion, primarily due to unexpected costs, including foreign exchange losses.

2. Why Did This Happen? : Analyzing the Earnings Miss

The weaker performance can be attributed to a combination of external factors, including the global economic slowdown, geopolitical risks, and rising raw material prices, as well as domestic instability in the automotive market. The automotive segment faced challenges due to slowing demand and political uncertainty amidst the accelerating transition to electric vehicles. The electronics segment also experienced delayed recovery due to the global economic downturn and tariff uncertainties.

3. How is KTI Responding? : Future Growth Strategies

Despite the challenging environment, KTI is actively pursuing future growth opportunities. The company is focusing on developing electric vehicle component technologies and strengthening its supply chain in the automotive segment. In the electronics segment, KTI is expanding into new business areas, such as AI, IoT, and renewable energy, to secure growth momentum. The company maintains its commitment to R&D investment (3.78% of sales) and facility expansion.

4. What Should Investors Do? : Investment Strategy and Outlook

While short-term challenges are anticipated, KTI holds long-term growth potential driven by advancements in electric vehicles and new business ventures. Investors should carefully consider macroeconomic indicators, the pace of recovery in related industries, and the company’s progress in new businesses and profitability improvements when making investment decisions.