Tighter rule sinks Japan chemical exports to South Korea by 83% in July

Japanese shipments to South Korea of hydrogen fluoride, a chemical subject to newly tightened export controls amid frayed bilateral ties, plunged 83.7 percent to 479 tons in July from the previous month, government data showed Thursday.The export value of the material used to clean semiconductors also dropped 32.6 percent to 400 million yen ($3.78 million) in the reporting month, the Finance Ministry said.The material is one of three chemicals which Japan made subject to export restrictions from July 4, requiring exporters to obtain a license prior to each shipment to South Korea.Up until J…READ FULL ARTICLE