電機と自動車、垣根越えAI時代の勝ち筋見えるか 幕張で展示会

South Korean companies are rushing to establish themselves in the emerging field of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, transforming them into a new "gold mine." Consumer electronics manufacturers have begun diversifying into data center cooling equipment providers, while steel producers have shifted to supplying data center material.

This shift in business structure is evident across major listed companies as they adapt to cater to the needs of data centers. Major domestic listed companies also show their intention to expand into energy and artificial intelligence sectors. For the steel industry, data centers present a fresh opportunity, especially for those struggling with low prices and weak demand.

South Korean steelmakers, like Posco and Samsung, are restructuring their organizations and expanding into new areas such as high-end building construction markets and data center construction. Meanwhile, home appliance companies are entering the data center cooling market with major contracts in the US. In addition, entities in the electricity and transmission infrastructure sector are experiencing increased demand for specialized services.

The total power demand from global data centers is expected to grow from 226 gigawatts (GW) this year to 334 GW next year, according to market research firm Omdia. With the need to supply stable and large amounts of power to data centers 24/7, there is growing demand for gas combined-cycle power generation. Companies like Hundai Electric and EES Systems are benefiting from the surge in North American power grid replacement and high-voltage transformer and circuit breaker demand.

Among South Korean listed companies, energy-related industries are the most popular new business areas, accounting for 31.1% of all new business objectives in the top 1,000 companies by assets. Energy demand is driven by factors such as the 2035 greenhouse gas reduction target and the establishment of the RE100 industrial zone. However, a significant portion of this energy demand is for renewable energy sources (18.9%).

The disparity in the number of new business ventures among companies of different sizes is clear, with top firms diversifying into multiple sectors, while smaller firms tend to focus on energy and manufacturing sectors. The high investment costs required for entering new industries make entry difficult for many companies.