Korea Zinc–Young Poong Q2 Earnings Diverge as Seokpo Smelter Utilisation Falls

According to South Korean regulatory filings, Korea Zinc reported consolidated Q2 operating profit of ₩587 billion, versus ₩1.5 billion for Young Poong. Their respective H1 cumulative operating profits were ₩1.33 trillion and ₩44.8 billion. Korea Zinc’s Onsan smelter maintained 100% utilization in H1, while Young Poong’s zinc-focused Seokpo smelter utilization declined from 57.23% in Q1 to 51.7% in Q2, though it remained above the 45.95% recorded for full-year 2025.

Young Poong’s Q2 revenue rose 42.2% year on year to ₩853.2 billion and operating profit turned positive from a ₩94.1 billion loss a year earlier but fell sharply from ₩43.3 billion in Q1. Environmental uncertainty remains material: financial regulators imposed a fine of about ₩20.4 billion over the accounting treatment of soil and groundwater remediation costs. The climate, energy and environment minister said a suspension could be imposed if continued operation at the current site is determined to threaten the Nakdong River drinking-water source; no shutdown has been ordered.