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Lotte Chairman Orders 2026 Turnaround, Puts AI and Restructuring at the Core

The push responds to persistent “three highs” plus geopolitical risks.

Overview

  • In a New Year’s message, Chairman Shin Dong-bin called for an all-out turnaround this year with an emphasis on qualitative growth.
  • He set three priorities: autonomy-driven results, proactive response to change, and precise execution of innovation.
  • Lotte’s petrochemical unit continues to post losses, weighing on group performance during a prolonged industry downturn.
  • Since late 2024, Lotte Chemical has sold stakes in overseas joint ventures and other non-core assets to strengthen its financial structure.
  • Under a government-led program, Lotte Chemical plans to spin off its Daesan naphtha cracking center to form a new entity with HD Hyundai Chemical, while highlighting selective overseas initiatives in Indonesia, India, the United States, Malaysia and Vietnam.