168 views 10 mins 0 comments

Top 10 Companies in the Oil & Gas Catalyst Industry (2025): Market Leaders Driving Refining and Petrochemical Innovation

In Business Insights
November 07, 2025

The Global Oil & Gas Catalyst Market was valued at USD 4.12 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 5.89 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.2% during the forecast period (2023–2030). This growth is primarily driven by stricter environmental regulations, increasing demand for cleaner fuels, and the expansion of refinery capacities in emerging economies. Catalysts are indispensable for enhancing process efficiency, reducing emissions, and enabling the production of high-value petrochemicals.

As the energy sector pivots towards sustainability and operational excellence, the role of catalyst manufacturers has become more critical than ever. They are at the forefront of developing advanced materials that enable cleaner refining processes and the production of biofuels and blue hydrogen. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Oil & Gas Catalyst Industry—global chemical giants and specialized firms that are innovating to meet the world’s evolving energy needs.

Download FREE Sample Report: Oil & Gas Catalyst Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔟 1. Albemarle Corporation

Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Key Offering: Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Catalysts, Hydroprocessing Catalysts

Albemarle is a global leader in the production of highly engineered catalysts for the refining and petrochemical industries. The company’s catalysts are essential for converting heavy crude oil into valuable transportation fuels like gasoline and diesel, while also helping refiners meet stringent sulfur regulations.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Development of advanced zeolite-based catalysts for improved yield and selectivity

  • Solutions aimed at reducing refinery energy consumption and carbon footprint

  • Investments in catalyst recycling and rejuvenation technologies


9️⃣ 2. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Refining Catalysts, Chemical Catalysts, Petrochemical Catalysts

BASF’s catalyst division is one of the world’s largest and most diverse, serving the entire hydrocarbon value chain. Their products are critical for processes such as hydrocracking, hydrotreating, and catalytic reforming, enabling the production of cleaner-burning fuels and base chemicals.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Pioneering catalysts for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and biodiesel production

  • Advanced materials for blue and green hydrogen production

  • Digital catalyst services to optimize refinery performance


8️⃣ 3. Johnson Matthey

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Hydrogenation Catalysts, Syngas Catalysts, Petrochemical Catalysts

Johnson Matthey is a specialty chemicals company renowned for its sustainable technologies. Its catalyst portfolio is vital for hydrogen production, ammonia synthesis, and emission control, playing a key role in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Leading provider of catalysts for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) applications

  • Technologies for converting waste plastics into synthetic fuels

  • Focus on circular economy principles in catalyst manufacturing


7️⃣ 4. Clariant AG

Headquarters: Muttenz, Switzerland
Key Offering: Catalysts for Syngas, Fuels & Syngas, Petrochemicals

Clariant’s Catalysts business unit offers a wide range of high-performance products for the oil and gas industry. Their catalysts are used in processes like methanol production, sulfur recovery, and olefin polymerization, emphasizing efficiency and environmental performance.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Development of high-activity catalysts that reduce reactor size and energy use

  • Specialized catalysts for bio-based feedstocks

  • Commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its own operations

Download FREE Sample Report: Oil & Gas Catalyst Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Honeywell UOP

Headquarters: Des Plaines, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Process Technology & Catalysts for Refining, Gas Processing, Petrochemicals

Honeywell UOP is a premier technology and equipment provider to the hydrocarbon processing industry. The company doesn’t just supply catalysts; it provides integrated solutions that include process design, proprietary equipment, and the specialized catalysts needed to run them efficiently.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Licensor of leading refining technologies like the UOP Fluid Catalytic Cracking process

  • Catalysts and processes for converting renewables into green diesel and jet fuel

  • Digital twin technology for real-time catalyst performance optimization


5️⃣ 6. W. R. Grace & Co.

Headquarters: Columbia, Maryland, USA
Key Offering: FCC Catalysts, Polyolefin Catalysts, Specialty Catalysts

Grace is a leading producer of FCC catalysts and silica-based products. Its catalysts are used in over 60% of the world’s FCC units, which are the primary conversion units in refineries, turning vacuum gas oil into gasoline and other light fuels.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Innovations in FCC catalysts to maximize propylene yield for plastics production

  • Catalysts designed to process opportunity crudes with high metal content

  • Focus on developing solutions that help customers lower their CO2 emissions


4️⃣ 7. Axens

Headquarters: Rueil-Malmaison, France
Key Offering: Hydroprocessing Catalysts, Adsorbents, Process Technologies

Axens, a subsidiary of IFP Energies Nouvelles, provides a complete range of solutions for the conversion of oil and biomass to cleaner fuels. The company is a key player in hydrotreating and hydrocracking catalysts, which are essential for producing ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD).

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Extensive portfolio for biofuels, including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) technology

  • Catalysts for the petrochemical sector, such as aromatics production and olefin purification

  • Strong R&D focus on biomass conversion and circular carbon technologies


3️⃣ 8. Topsoe A/S

Headquarters: Lyngby, Denmark
Key Offering: Hydroprocessing Catalysts, Sulfur Recovery Catalysts, Synthesis Gas Catalysts

Topsoe is a world leader in high-performance catalysts and proprietary process technology for the refining and chemical industries. The company is particularly strong in catalysts for sulfur removal and hydrogen production, which are critical for environmental compliance.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Pioneering the HydroFlex™ technology for co-processing renewable feedstocks in existing refineries

  • Developing solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) technology for efficient green hydrogen production

  • Aiming to be a leader in carbon reduction technologies by 2024


2️⃣ 9. Evonik Industries AG

Headquarters: Essen, Germany
Key Offering: Precious Metal Catalysts, Oxide Catalysts, Silica Catalysts

Evonik’s Catalyst business provides specialized catalysts for a variety of applications, including hydrogen peroxide production, methacrylate chemistry, and custom synthesis for the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries, with spillover benefits for oil and gas processing.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Expertise in precious metal catalysts for highly selective hydrogenation reactions

  • Development of catalysts for the production of performance materials from bio-based sources

  • Strong emphasis on resource efficiency and lifecycle management of catalytic materials


1️⃣ 10. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company

Headquarters: The Woodlands, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Polyethylene Catalysts, Specialty Chemicals Catalysts

As a major petrochemical producer, Chevron Phillips Chemical is also a significant player in catalyst development, particularly for olefins and polyolefins. Their proprietary loop slurry process technology relies on advanced catalysts to produce high-quality polyethylene.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Innovation in metallocene and single-site catalysts for creating advanced polymer grades

  • Research into catalytic processes for chemical recycling of plastics

  • Commitment to operational excellence and reducing the environmental footprint of its products

Get Full Report Here: Oil & Gas Catalyst Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Oil & Gas Catalysts is Smarter, Cleaner, and More Efficient

The oil and gas catalyst market is evolving rapidly, driven by the dual pressures of energy transition and the need for greater profitability. While traditional refining catalysts still form the bulk of the market, innovation is accelerating in areas like digitalization, sustainability, and advanced materials.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Catalyst Digitalization: Use of AI and machine learning for predictive maintenance, performance optimization, and accelerated R&D.

  • Rise of Bio-refining: Growing demand for catalysts that can process renewable feeds like vegetable oils, animal fats, and biomass into drop-in fuels.

  • Circular Economy Focus: Development of catalysts for chemical recycling of plastic waste into virgin-quality monomers and fuels.

  • Hydrogen Economy: Expansion of catalyst portfolios to support blue hydrogen (from natural gas with CCUS) and green hydrogen (from water electrolysis) production.

The companies profiled above are not merely supplying chemicals; they are providing the technological keys to a more efficient, sustainable, and profitable energy and chemical industry. Their ongoing innovations will be crucial in navigating the complex transition towards a lower-carbon future.

Get Full Report Here: Oil & Gas Catalyst Market – View in Detailed Research Report