Refining catalysts: Production
Why a few US and Dutch plants supply most refineries
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 | ||
| World output | FCC catalyst roughly 0.5-0.9 Mt a year (indicative) | indicative (basis: fresh catalyst additions, policyrisk.com) | |
| Capacity utilisation | not published | Ketjen reported higher FCC volumes in 2025; Clariant reported lower catalyst volumes overall in 2025. | Albemarle FY2025 results; Clariant FY2025 release |
| Concentration | US 52% of FCC catalyst supply; Grace, BASF and Ketjen about 75% of the US market | The shares are from a secondary supply map with no year and are inconsistent with each other (Grace 38% + BASF 30% + Ketjen 15% exceeds 75%); treat as indicative. Clariant has about 5% of FCC worldwide on the same source. | policyrisk.com FCC catalysts supply map |
| New capacity | not published | No large new FCC catalyst plant announcements found. Activity is in ownership: Albemarle sold control of Ketjen to KPS (completed March 2026) and its 50% of Eurecat to Axens (January 2026), for $670 million combined pre-tax. | Albemarle completion release, 2 March 2026 |
Top producing countries
United States 52% · Grace (Louisiana), BASF (Louisiana), Ketjen (Texas) China 20% · Sinopec Catalyst Company and CNPC plants Netherlands 12% · Ketjen Amsterdam Germany 8% · Grace Worms policyrisk.com FCC catalysts supply map (undated, low confidence); policyrisk.com FCC catalysts supply map (undated)Largest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W. R. Grace (Standard Industries) Largest FCC supplier; private since 2021, so no figures. About 38% of the US FCC market on one source. | US | not published | 2025 | policyrisk.com |
| BASF Refinery catalyst sales not reported separately. | Germany | not published | 2025 | policyrisk.com |
| Ketjen (KPS Capital Partners majority, Albemarle minority) Adjusted EBITDA $150.4 million. Control sold to KPS, completed March 2026. | US / Netherlands | 1,066 $ million net sales 2025 (FCC, clean fuels technologies, hydroprocessing) | 2025 | Albemarle Q4 and FY2025 results |
| Topsoe Leading hydroprocessing supplier; refining share of catalyst revenue not published. | Denmark | 6,174 DKK million catalyst revenue (all catalysts, refining and chemical) | 2025 | Topsoe 2025 results |
| Sinopec Catalyst Company Supplies most Chinese refineries. | China | not published | n/a | policyrisk.com |
| Axens (IFP Energies nouvelles group) Private; no volumes. | France | not published | 2026 | Albemarle completion release (Axens bought Albemarle's 50% of Eurecat) |
| JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Volumes not published. | Japan | not published | n/a | Verified Market Research via GII (key players) |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Oil Corporation (R&D Centre) IOCL develops FCC additives and hydroprocessing catalysts at its Faridabad R&D centre; manufacturing scale not verified. | India | not published | n/a | |
| Sud-Chemie India Not verified as a refining catalyst producer at scale. | India | not published | n/a |
India has no large FCC catalyst plant identified in the sources reviewed. Its refineries buy from Grace, BASF, Ketjen, Topsoe and Axens, so refining catalysts are largely imported (HS 381519). Topsoe named India as a key growth driver in 2025.
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Home of Grace, BASF Refining Catalysts and Ketjen's Pasadena plant; the main export base. |
| EU | Ketjen Amsterdam and Grace Worms make FCC catalyst; Axens, Topsoe and Shell make hydroprocessing catalysts. |
| India | Import-dependent; demand grows with refinery expansions and BS-VI fuel. |
| China | Sinopec and CNPC supply in-house; China takes about 20% of global FCC catalyst demand on one source and is the lanthanum supplier. |
| Japan | JGC Catalysts and Chemicals supplies FCC catalysts. |
| Middle East | Large new refineries are buyers; no major catalyst plants identified. |