The U.S. government’s launch of a 350 billion USD investment initiative has sparked a surge in domestic construction companies’ stock prices, as they anticipate opportunities in the American nuclear power market. The recent conflict in Iran, which has impacted Middle Eastern energy facilities, has also fueled expectations for reconstruction projects.
The Korea Exchange reported on March 20 that DL E&C closed at a record high of 67,400 KRW (about 44.65 USD), up 15,500 KRW (about 10.27 USD) (29.87%) from the previous day.
DL E&C’s preferred stocks also saw significant gains, with the 2nd preferred rising 21.12% and the 1st preferred increasing by 18.46%.
Hanshin Construction joined DL E&C in hitting the daily limit with a 29.99% increase. Other construction stocks also rallied, including GS Construction at 22.54%, Daewoo Construction at 18.18%, Kumho Construction at 14.31%, and Kolon Global at 14.11%.
The upward trend extended beyond construction stocks, with Doosan Enerbility rising 3.10%, Korea Electric Power Corporation gaining 9.93%, and Samsung E&C increasing by 8.28%.
The National Security Council recently passed the Special Law for Strategic Investment Management between Korea and the U.S., commonly known as the Special Law for U.S. Investment. With nuclear power projects likely to be the first major investment under this law, construction companies with expertise in nuclear design, procurement, and construction (EPC) are seeing increased investor interest.
The Special Law for U.S. Investment outlines a deal where the U.S. will lower mutual tariffs to 15%, while South Korea commits to investing 350 billion USD in the U.S. This investment is earmarked for key sectors, with 150 billion USD allocated to shipbuilding and 200 billion USD to strategic industries including energy, semiconductors, and critical minerals.
The construction sector is also benefiting from the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The recent attacks on Iran’s South Pars gas field by Israel, and Iran’s retaliatory strikes on energy facilities in neighboring countries, including Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex, have raised expectations for future reconstruction projects in the region.