최초입력 2025.07.21 10:53:48
South Korea’s OCI Holdings is partnering with Japan’s Tokuyama Corporation to build a state-of-the-art production facility for semiconductor-grade polysilicon in Sarawak, Malaysia, in a major milestone in Korea-Japan cooperation in core semiconductor materials.
The companies have formed a 50:50 joint venture, OTSM (OCI Tokuyama Semiconductor Materials), and plan to invest $435 million (600 billion won) to construct the plant within the Samalaju Industrial Park, located in East Malaysia’s Sarawak state. This will be Southeast Asia’s first facility dedicated to semiconductor-grade polysilicon.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, where OCI Holdings Chairman Lee Woo-hyun emphasized the project’s strategic significance. “This is not merely infrastructure investment - it is an investment in the future of global high-tech industries,” Lee said.
Lee personally escorted Sarawak Governor Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari, explaining OCI’s expanding business in the region. Johari pledged full administrative support for the project, noting its potential to revitalize Sarawak’s economy.
OTSM’s new plant will be built on idle land owned by OCI TerraSus, OCI’s Malaysian subsidiary. The facility is scheduled to begin pilot operations in 2027, with full-scale commercial production expected to begin in 2029. Its annual capacity will hit 8,000 tons of ultra-high-purity 11N grade (99.999999999 percent) polysilicon, produced using hydroelectric power sourced via a newly signed 10-year power purchase agreement with Sarawak Energy.
Electricity accounts for roughly 40 percent of polysilicon production costs, and Malaysia’s industrial electricity prices are only about one-third of Korea’s. OCI expects the location to deliver significant cost advantages and sustainability benefits.
OCI Holdings initially entered Malaysia in 2017 by acquiring 100 percent of Tokuyama’s local solar-grade polysilicon subsidiary. Renamed OCI TerraSus earlier in 2025, the unit is now being developed into a full-fledged advanced materials company producing not only polysilicon but also epichlorohydrin (ECH) and chlor-alkali (CA) products. ECH is used in epoxy resins for secondary battery coatings while CA is a key input in both ECH production and semiconductor etching processes.
“This joint venture goes beyond conventional business collaboration,” an OCI Holdings spokesperson noted. “It is the first Korea-Japan partnership in a core semiconductor materials field, especially meaningful in the year marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.”
With the Malaysian plant, OCI aims to establish a complete, non-China-based solar supply chain. Polysilicon produced in Malaysia will feed into its U.S.-based cell and module plants, including the Texas cell factory set to open in 2026, which will eventually supply OCI Energy’s solar power projects.
In parallel, the company sees strong semiconductor-sector growth opportunities. OCI’s existing Gunsan facility in Korea produces 4,700 tons of semiconductor-grade polysilicon annually. The Malaysian addition will significantly boost capacity, positioning OCI to meet increasing global demand.
Malaysia is already a global hub for semiconductor back-end processing, accounting for over 13 percent of the market and ranking sixth worldwide in semiconductor exports. Major players such as Intel, Infineon, and Texas Instruments have invested heavily in Malaysia, reinforcing its role as ASEAN’s leading semiconductor supply chain center.
Through its strategic partnership with Tokuyama and deepened investment in Malaysia, OCI Holdings is positioning itself as a global leader in both the semiconductor and solar materials industries.
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