Korean air filter maker CNTUS SUNGJIN aims to crack US market

CNTUS SUNGJIN Co., a mid-sized South Korean company known for its colorful face masks made under the Aer brand, has focused on business-to-business transactions since its establishment in 2003.

Just like other face mask manufacturers around the world, the company enjoyed soaring sales and profit over the past couple of years due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Its sales revenue reached 170.8 billion won ($129 million) in 2021, a more than threefold increase from 47.4 billion won in 2019. Operating profit skyrocketed to 56.3 billion won from 1.9 billion won in the same period.

Buoyed by its strong performance, CNTUS SUNGJIN now looks to the US for further growth, not just in the B2B sector but in the business-to-consumer segment.

“We have an outstanding filter-making technology plus the capability to produce plastic, the raw material for filters. We stand a good chance of success in the US,” said Chief Executive Ha Choon-wook.

SETTING UP A SEPARATE US BUSINESS TEAM

The company recently set up a separate US business team to enter the North American B2C market.

“Demand for masks isn’t dwindling even as the pandemic has subsided and is set to turn into an endemic. Our air filter business will thrive,” he said.

The Kosdaq-listed company doesn't just make face masks.

It specializes in air filters used in a wide variety of applications, including vehicle air conditioners, air purifiers, air sterilizers and vacuum cleaners. It also develops and sells masks for medical industrial purposes.

The CEO said it aims to bring those products to the US business and consumer markets. He didn’t specify the exact launch time.

The company runs operations in China as well as in Korea.

It is also building a factory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Construction of the plant is set to be completed in September.

“The Ho Chi Minh plant will be our overseas outpost for cracking the US B2C market. We’re going to sell our products through retail channels such as Amazon,” said the CEO.

Write to Byung-Keun Kim at Bk11@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.