LS Cable & System has become the first Korean company to begin construction of a large-scale factory in the United States since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, and is targeting the global market despite the strengthened protectionism.
LS Cable & System announced on April 29 that its subsidiary LS GreenLink has begun construction of the largest submarine cable manufacturing plant in the U.S. in Chesapeake, Virginia.
This project, with a total investment of $681 million (1 trillion won), is attracting attention as the first large-scale investment by a Korean company in the U.S. since Trump’s second term began.
This investment is part of LS Cable & System’s plan to proactively respond to the U.S. supply chain self-reliance strategy and to establish a foothold to lead the global energy infrastructure transition.
In particular, given the extremely limited submarine cable production infrastructure in the United States, this investment has strategic significance in terms of expanding local procurement and improving supply chain stability.
The factory will be built on a 396,700 square meter site in the Elizabeth River basin with a total floor area of approximately 70,000 square meters.
The plant is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2027 and begin mass production in the first quarter of 2028, and the company also plans to expand its facilities in line with future global demand.
The planned production facilities include a 201-meter-tall VCV tower and dedicated port facilities. These will provide the plant with world-class, one-stop infrastructure capable of everything from the production of HVDC (high voltage direct current) submarine cables to their transportation and supply.
Notably, the VCV Tower will be the tallest structure in Virginia and the tallest industrial facility on the East Coast between Philadelphia and Charlotte. Construction of the plant is expected to create more than 330 high-end jobs in the community.
A bird’s eye-view of a submarine cable plant being built by LS GreenLink.
“The construction of the LS GreenLink plant will be a turning point for LS Cable & System on its path to becoming a global energy infrastructure company,” said Koo Bon-kyu, CEO of LS Cable & System.
“With our world-class manufacturing infrastructure, we will respond quickly and efficiently to the rapidly growing global demand for submarine cables.”
“We have already secured export orders for Europe for the next 18 months,” said Kim Ki-soo, CEO of LS GreenLink, adding, “The US AI data center power demand in 2024 will reach 32 GW, half of South Korea’s total annual power demand (62 GW), and will more than triple to 120 GW by 2030, driving up cable demand accordingly.”
“Groundbreaking on GreenLink is a symbolic demonstration of Virginia’s innovation and manufacturing prowess,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“This plant will create hundreds of jobs and provide a model for sustainable economic growth.”
Chesapeake Mayor Rick West said, “This investment is the largest single private investment in Chesapeake City history and will serve as an opportunity for the city to become a key hub in the global energy supply chain.”
Based on this project, LS Cable & System plans to establish a central pillar for a global submarine business supply chain that encompasses the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.
In addition, the company expects to create synergy through collaboration with LS Marine Solutions and LS EcoEnergy.
LS Cable & System, established in 1962, has been contributing to building power grids and communication networks first in Korea and then in countries all over the world by developing, producing and providing cables and related solutions used in daily life and throughout many industries.
Furthermore, the company set the stage for industrial and economic development by capitalizing on its innovative technology to supply various special industrial cables and industrial materials.
LS Cable & System supplies state-of-the-art products, including submarine, extra-high voltage, high temperature superconducting and communications cables to power authorities, heavy electric equipment makers and common carriers around the globe.
The company is now recognized as a leading manufacturer serving international industries.
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