On October 30, according to Japanese media reports, Japan’s exports of hydrogen fluoride to South Korea in September were 100KG, compared with 3,283 tons in September last year, which was 99.9%, and exports were 3.723 million yen, down 99.4% year-on-year.
According to previous reports, the trade restriction order makes it difficult for South Korea to purchase hydrogen fluoride from Japan. In August this year, Japan’s exports of hydrogen fluoride to Korea and exports were zero.
On July 4 this year, Japan officially restricted the export of three key semiconductor materials, hydrogen fluoride, photoresist and fluoropolyimide, to Japan. In the month, Japan’s exports of hydrogen fluoride to South Korea fell to 479 tons, a sharp drop of 83.7%.
When Japanese companies exported these three semiconductor materials to Korea, they could obtain a three-year export license. After the export control order comes into effect, each export needs to be separately licensed, and the procedures become very complicated, and the time required for the license to pass can be up to 90 days.
As of the end of last month, the Japanese government issued a total of three export licenses (on August 7, 19, and 29, respectively), two of which were photoresists, one was hydrogen fluoride, and the 100KG hydrogen fluoride was exported in September. It should be the export license application.