South Korea’s semiconductor hydrofluoric acid supply chain faces renewed pressure. Affected by Middle East geopolitical tensions, Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride (AHF), a core material for chip manufacturing, has risen by nearly 40% since early 2026, with further price increases expected in June and July. To guarantee stable production for Samsung and SK Hynix, Korean manufacturers have significantly increased AHF imports from China.
According to Maihuasu Research Institute, China’s industrial-grade AHF price has climbed from below 12,000 RMB/ton to over 15,000 RMB/ton, while high-purity AHF is priced at 16,000–16,500 RMB/ton, with the upward trend continuing.
The price surge is driven by disrupted global sulfur supply due to Middle East conflicts, with sulfur prices soaring nearly 80% year-to-date. Since 94% of global AHF is produced via the fluorite-sulfuric acid process, rising sulfur and sulfuric acid costs have triggered a full-industry price increase along the chain of sulfur, sulfuric acid, AHF and semiconductor-grade hydrofluoric acid.
Lacking domestic production capacity, South Korea is almost fully reliant on imported AHF, mainly sourced from China. Accounting for 87% of global AHF production capacity, China possesses irreplaceable strengths including abundant fluorite reserves, a complete fluorine chemical industrial chain and large-scale manufacturing capabilities.
Against escalating global geopolitical risks, China effectively hedges international supply chain volatility, acting as the core stabilizer of the global semiconductor hydrofluoric acid supply chain and holding dominant discourse power in upstream raw material supply.
This article is a reprint of industrial information for reference only. It does not constitute any investment or procurement advice, and all relevant risks shall be borne by the reader.
