Its new greenfield plant in China – expected to become the world’s largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) catalyst production facility to date – will enable Umicore to cater for the rapidly growing customer demand, serving demand through to 2030, the company said.

"China has now become an important engine for the global fuel cell vehicle technology and market. Through cutting-edge fuel cell catalyst technology, Umicore is reshaping transportation and mobility in China and around the world," Joakim Thøgersen, senior vice president Fuel Cells and Stationary Catalysts of Umicore, commented.

According to Umicore, the greenfield facility, that will expand the company’s existing footprint of fuel cell catalyst production and R&D centers in Europe and Asia, is planned to be carbon neutral from the start and will contribute to reducing Scope 3 emissions in the value chain. The plant is expected to become operational in early 2026.