SK Plasma, a South Korean biopharmaceutical company controlled by SK Discovery Co. (006120.KS), broke ground Monday on a ₩900 billion (USD 595 million) plasma fractionation complex in Çubuk, Ankara — the largest single plasma-technology export from South Korea to date.
The 36,000-square-metre facility will be built through Proturk, a joint venture between SK Plasma and the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay), with Turkish government ministries also participating. Once operational in 2030, the plant will process 600,000 litres of donor plasma annually, yielding albumin, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and factor VIII concentrate — essential medicines Turkey currently imports in large volumes.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the ceremony via live broadcast, calling the project "important for strengthening Turkey's production base for essential medicines and reducing external dependence." SK Plasma CEO Kim Seung-joo said the company intends to "build a stable supply system and expand the business scope of K-bio into Europe."
SK Plasma holds a 15% equity stake in Proturk, on top of a €65 million technology transfer and licensing agreement — the company's largest licensing deal since its 2015 founding.
The Çubuk plant is SK Plasma's second overseas production hub, after an existing facility in Indonesia, forming a dual-geography supply chain positioned to serve Southeast Asia and the European-Middle East corridor. In the interim, Turkish donor plasma will be shipped to SK Plasma's Andong, South Korea, facility for processing until the new plant achieves commercial output, currently scheduled for 2030. Construction is targeted for completion in the second half of 2028.
The project underscores a broader trend in Korea's pharmaceutical sector: exporting plasma fractionation know-how to countries seeking domestic drug independence. Turkey has long relied on Western manufacturers for albumin and IVIG; the ₩900 billion Proturk complex is designed to cover a significant share of national demand. The €65 million technology transfer fee was already recognised as SK Plasma's single largest licensing transaction; the equity participation adds a recurring revenue stream as well.
SK Discovery, the parent of SK Plasma, was spun out of SK Chemicals Co. (285130.KS) and retains stakes in life-science assets spanning vaccines and blood-products businesses. With the Turkey groundbreaking added to its Indonesia footprint, the group is building what it calls a "K-bio" international supply network.
Sources: Korea Herald · Korea Biomedical Review · The Korea Times · The Investor
