Hydrogen: Production
Why China dominates both grey and green hydrogen
What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | not published as a single figure; electrolysis 2 GW installed (2024), electrolyser manufacturing about 20 GW a year in China alone | IEA GHR 2025 | |
| World output | almost 100 Mt (2024) | IEA GHR 2025 | |
| Capacity utilisation | not published | Captive SMRs run with their host refinery or ammonia plant. Chinese electrolyser factories run far below capacity: about 20 GW a year of capacity against about 2 GW of world demand in 2024. | IEA GHR 2025 |
| Concentration | China about 30% of demand (indicative); China holds 65% of installed electrolysis and nearly 60% of electrolyser manufacturing capacity | Production is spread across thousands of captive units, so company shares are low. Merchant hydrogen is concentrated in Air Products, Linde and Air Liquide. | IEA GHR 2024 (indicative); IEA GHR 2025 |
| New capacity | low-emissions output 4.2 Mt a year by 2030 from projects operating or at FID; 37 Mt a year announced | Over 200 low-emissions projects have reached FID since 2020. NEOM Green Hydrogen (Air Products, ACWA Power, NEOM) is about 2.2 GW of electrolysis for green ammonia (start about 2026-27, indicative). India: IOCL Panipat 10 kt a year; L&T Green 90 kt a year under SIGHT. | IEA GHR 2025; JMK Research (2025); NEOM details indicative |
Top producing countries
China 30% · about 29 Mt (2023, indicative) India 6% · about 6 Mt a year (indicative)- United States: not retrieved; second-largest user via refining and ammonia
- Middle East: not retrieved; large ammonia, methanol and refining base
- Russia: not retrieved; large ammonia producer (15 Mt N, USGS 2025e)
Largest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinopec indicative; largest single producer | China | 3.5 Mt H2 a year produced (refining and chemicals) | 2022 | Sinopec company statements (indicative) |
| Air Products largest merchant supplier; partner in NEOM green hydrogen project | US | not published | 2025 | company |
| Linde hydrogen volume not disclosed | UK/US/Germany | 33.99 $ billion total sales (all gases, 2025) | 2025 | Linde 2025 Annual Report / Form 10-K |
| Air Liquide volume not published | France | not published | 2025 | company |
| CF Industries captive, all converted to ammonia | US | 1.8 Mt H2 equivalent (10.1 Mt gross ammonia x 0.178) | 2025 | CF Industries 2025 results; derived |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Industries (Jamnagar) not published | India | not published | 2025 | company |
| Indian Oil Corporation grey refinery hydrogen not published | India | 0.01 Mt green H2 a year contracted at Panipat (L&T Green, 25 years, Rs 397/kg) | 2025 | JMK Research (May 2025) |
| L&T Green | India | 0.09 Mt green H2 a year awarded under SIGHT Mode I Tranche II | 2025 | JMK Research (May 2025) |
| ACME Cleantech | India | 0.37 Mt green ammonia a year awarded in SECI tender (hydrogen embedded about 66 kt) | 2025 | SECI presentation via ESMAP (2025) |
India uses about 6 Mt of hydrogen a year, nearly all grey, in refineries and fertiliser plants (MNRE, indicative). The National Green Hydrogen Mission targets 5 Mt a year of green hydrogen by 2030; contracted volumes so far are in the tens to hundreds of kilotonnes.
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Large refinery and ammonia user; 45V clean hydrogen credit of up to $3/kg, with a 2025 law moving the construction deadline to end-2027 (indicative). |
| EU | Grey hydrogen tied to TTF gas; RED III sets a 42% renewable hydrogen target for industry by 2030; hydrogen is covered by CBAM from 2026. |
| India | About 6 Mt a year, mostly grey from imported LNG; first green tenders at $4.4-4.6/kg (2025). |
| China | About 30% of world demand, much of it coal-based; 65% of installed electrolysis (IEA 2025). |
| Japan | Small producer; aims to import hydrogen and ammonia for power and industry under its Hydrogen Society Promotion Act (2024). |
| Middle East | Cheap gas and sun; NEOM in Saudi Arabia and Oman's hydrogen auctions target export as ammonia. |