• Signs European distribution agreement for SKYPEL with Switzerland-based Omya
• Full-scale sales begin on the back of a pan-European distribution network, with expectations for broader market access

SK Chemicals is moving to expand its European market presence in functional materials through a partnership with a global distribution company.

SK Chemicals (CEO Ahn Jae-hyun) announced on May 8 that it has signed a sales and distribution agreement with Omya Performance Polymer Distribution (hereinafter Omya) for the European market, covering SKYPEL, its thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE).

Headquartered in Aargau, northern Switzerland, Omya is a distributor with expertise in functional polymers, including engineering polymers, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), and rubber. Under this agreement, Omya will serve as the official distributor of SKYPEL for SK Chemicals in Europe, handling customer sales and support, technical assistance, and logistics. Building on the stable supply channel secured through its collaboration with Omya, SK Chemicals will pursue active marketing and continue developing applications tailored to EU customers' needs, thereby expanding both its target industries and its customer base across the European market.

SKYPEL is a polyester-based elastomer that combines the flexibility of rubber with the strength and durability of engineering plastics. With outstanding elastic recovery and long-term durability, it is primarily used in industrial applications that require elasticity, including automotive parts, industrial hoses, submarine cables, and breathable films. It has proven its competitiveness particularly in the automotive sector, where safety and quality requirements are demanding, through applications such as powertrain components, air intake hoses, and airbags.

Europe is regarded as a market where demand for industrial thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) continues to grow, driven by the expansion of automotive electrification and the electrical and electronics industries. Grand View Research, a global market research firm, has projected that the European TPEE market will grow from about USD 1.5 billion (approximately KRW 2.25 trillion) in 2022 to about USD 2.3 billion (approximately KRW 3.46 trillion) by 2035.

Carsten Harms, CEO of Omya, said, “The European market sees strong demand for lightweight, high-performance materials, driven by expanding automotive electrification and tightening carbon emission regulations. Centered on the proven physical properties and quality of SKYPEL, which has been widely adopted in automotive components, we will support aggressive marketing to drive market expansion rapidly."

SK Chemicals’ strategy is to actively target the fast-growing European industrial materials market through its collaboration with Omya. The company plans to expand its SKYPEL business, which has so far been centered on Southern Europe in markets such as Germany and Italy, across the entire continent, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Benelux countries, and Scandinavia, leveraging Omya’s pan-European sales network, with the goal of more than doubling its sales volume in the European market by 2028.

Kim Eung-soo, Head of SK Chemicals’ Green Materials Business Division, said, “This agreement will serve as a turning point that expands our customer touchpoints through Omya’s pan-European distribution network and further strengthens our ability to respond quickly to customer needs, including technical support. Building on the competitiveness of SKYPEL, we will continue to address the diverse technical requirements of the European market and broaden our presence in the TPEE materials market.”

Meanwhile, SK Chemicals is accelerating the global expansion of its specialty business, building on its portfolio and technological capabilities in high-performance copolyester materials such as ECOZEN, which has earned recognition in the global market. Drawing on the application development and technical support expertise it has accumulated over the years, the company plans to continue targeting the global industrial materials market across areas such as automotive parts, elastic fibers, and coatings for cans and home appliances, with functional materials including SKYPEL and SKYBON, a polyester-based material for adhesives and coatings.

[Photo caption: At the signing ceremony for the SKYPEL European distribution agreement between SK Chemicals and Omya, Kim Eung-soo, Head of SK Chemicals’ Green Materials Business Division (left), and Carsten Harms, CEO of Omya (right), pose for a commemorative photo.]