Merck opens Korean chip materials plant to meet advanced memory demand

What happened: Merck opened a semiconductor materials plant in Eumseong, South Korea, producing molybdenum dioxide dichloride for ultrathin metal films in chip manufacturing, supplying customers in Korea and elsewhere in Asia. Key numbers: Plant is part of Merck's 600 million euro ($674 million) investment program announced in 2021. Why it matters: Merck Electronics CEO Benjamin Hein said Korea is among its top three semiconductor materials markets and cited potential doubling of demand within five years. Adoption is starting with NAND, with DRAM and logic expected to follow.

Merck opened a semiconductor materials plant in Eumseong, South Korea, producing molybdenum dioxide dichloride for ultrathin metal films in chip manufacturing, supplying customers in Korea and elsewhere in Asia.

Merck Electronics CEO Benjamin Hein said Korea is among its top three semiconductor materials markets and cited potential doubling of demand within five years. Adoption is starting with NAND, with DRAM and logic expected to follow.