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SK Innovation revenue tops forecast, battery system sees EV demand healing

SK Development said on Monday its SK On batterymaking unit is still on target to recover cost in the second half of this year after a. forecastbeating firstquarter operating earnings, sending its. shares up almost 6.5%.

The company, which also owns South Korea's leading refiner SK. Energy, said it expects strong refining margins to continue in. the 2nd quarter, backed by firm demand.

It posted operating profit of 625 billion won ($ 454 million). for the January to March period, versus 375 billion won a year. earlier and a typical analyst projection of 466 billion won. First-quarter profits fell 1.5% to 18.9 trillion won.

While we saw drops in EV battery delivery in the very first. quarter ... we expect to see an enhanced market environment. backed by launches of brand-new EVs in North America, SK On Chief. Financial Officer Kim Kyunghun stated in a post-earnings. conference call.

SK On, whose clients consist of Ford Motor, Volkswagen. and Hyundai Motor, expanded its operating. loss to 332 billion won in the first quarter from 18.6 billion. won a quarter before as EV battery shipments fell. Nevertheless, it. maintained its target to recover cost in the 2nd half.

When ... Hyundai Motor kicks off EV production in the United. States later this year, it would help raise SK On's EV battery. shipment and amount of tax credit gotten under the U.S. Inflation Decrease Act, stated Hyundai Motor Securities expert. Kang Dong-jin.

Shares in the business, which increased as much as 6.5%, closed up. 5.6% versus a 1.2% increase in the benchmark KOSPI.

Kang stated Monday's jump in Chinese property shares had. assisted lift SK Development, amidst speculation that more stimulus. steps for the battered realty sector might be revealed. today, possibly lifting need for petrochemical. products.

Experts are enthusiastic that SK On's battery shipments will. increase later this year, but note persistent near-term. unpredictability over EV need due to vehicle buyers' choice for. hybrid automobiles.

SK On's significant automaker consumer Ford earlier this month. stated it had postponed the launches of three-row EVs in Canada and. its next-generation electric pickup truck built in Tennessee.

Last week, SK On's cross-town competing LG Energy Option. stated it prepared to reduce capital expenditure this. year due to slowing worldwide EV demand, after reporting a 75% drop. in quarterly revenue.

SK, which has total refining capacity of 1.115 million. barrels daily at its plants in Ulsan and Incheon, stated it. anticipates to see strong refining margins in the second quarter.

The refiner stated it has actually secured contingency strategies to source. crude oil for its items in case of the blockade of the Gulf's. Strait of Hormuz, through which it sources more than 70% of its. petroleum.

SK included that it plans to perform maintenance work for its. No. 5 crude distillation unit