Key facts
- A strike by South Korean concrete transport workers has halted deliveries in the Seoul metropolitan area.
- The work stoppage involves approximately 8,000 members of the National Ready-Mixed Concrete Transport Workers' Union.
- Construction at Samsung Electronics' chip plant in Pyeongtaek has been halted due to the delivery suspension.
- Work has also stopped at SK Hynix's chip plant in Yongin.
- Union members rejected a tentative deal with concrete manufacturers, extending the strike.
- SK Hynix anticipates limited short-term impact due to construction sequence adjustments.
Industrial action by South Korean truck drivers transporting concrete is raising concerns over possible delays to major semiconductor plant expansion projects by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The National Ready-Mixed Concrete Transport Workers' Union suspended deliveries in the Seoul metropolitan area starting on Monday, a work stoppage involving around 8,000 members demanding higher rates and other changes. Participating union members blocked deliveries on Thursday from two concrete plants in Pyeongtaek, halting the pouring of concrete at the construction site for Samsung Electronics' chip plant. Concrete work was also halted at SK H Hynix's Yongin chip plant after deliveries were cancelled, according to South Korea's Newsis news agency, citing industry officials. SK Hynix said in a statement the short-term impact is expected to be limited, as the company has adjusted its construction sequence. Samsung declined to comment. The union had earlier agreed a tentative deal with concrete manufacturers, but members rejected the proposal on Wednesday in a vote, prolonging the stoppage. The short-term impact would likely be limited as builders had brought some work forward in anticipation of the disruption, but a prolonged stoppage could affect longer-term construction schedules.