Top 10 Companies in the Industrial Catalysts Industry (2025): Market Leaders Driving Chemical Innovation

In Business Insights
November 26, 2025


The Global Industrial Catalysts Market was valued at USD 12.1 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 14.37 Billion by 2028, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.5% during the forecast period (2022-2028). This steady growth is primarily driven by increasing demand from the petroleum refining and chemical synthesis sectors, stricter environmental regulations demanding cleaner processes, and the ongoing development of advanced catalyst technologies for energy efficiency and sustainability.

As global industries strive for greater efficiency and reduced environmental impact, the role of catalysts has never been more critical. These essential materials enable billions of dollars worth of chemical transformations every day. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Industrial Catalysts Industry—a group of chemical giants and specialty firms that are pioneering the technologies shaping modern manufacturing.

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🔟 1. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Polyolefin Catalysts, Chemical Catalysts, Environmental Catalysts

BASF stands as a global leader in the chemical industry and a dominant force in catalyst manufacturing. The company’s Catalysts division provides a comprehensive portfolio of catalysts for the chemical, petrochemical, and refining industries, with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Development of high-performance catalysts for plastic circularity and recycling

  • Advanced solutions for syngas production and clean fuel generation

  • Commitment to carbon management technologies and green hydrogen production catalysts


9️⃣ 2. Johnson Matthey

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Refining Catalysts, Pharmaceutical Catalysts, Syngas Catalysts

Johnson Matthey is a global leader in sustainable technologies, with a deep-rooted heritage in catalysis. The company’s Efficient Natural Resources sector provides critical catalysts for refining, chemical processing, and the emerging hydrogen economy, leveraging over 200 years of expertise.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Pioneering technologies for blue and green hydrogen production

  • Leading supplier of catalysts for emission control and clean air

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8️⃣ 3. Clariant AG

Headquarters: Muttenz, Switzerland
Key Offering: Catalysts for Petrochemicals, Syngas, Emission Control

Clariant’s Catalysts business unit is recognized for its innovative and customized catalyst solutions. The company specializes in catalysts for chemical production, refinery processes, and syngas, with a strong emphasis on developing eco-efficient technologies that reduce energy consumption and waste.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Sunliquid® technology for cellulosic ethanol production from agricultural residues

  • High-performance catalysts for the production of high-value chemicals and biofuels


7️⃣ 4. UOP LLC (A Honeywell Company)

Headquarters: Des Plaines, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Refining Catalysts, Adsorbents, Process Technology

UOP, a Honeywell company, is a premier international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Its catalysts are integral to producing cleaner-burning fuels and plastics.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Development of renewable jet fuel and diesel production technologies

  • Catalysts for molecular management and crude oil flexibility in refineries


6️⃣ 5. W. R. Grace & Co.

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

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials. The company’s catalysts technologies are critical to the production of high-octane gasoline, plastics, and other refined products. Grace is particularly renowned for its fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts that are used in a majority of refineries worldwide.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Innovations in FCC catalysts that enable refiners to process heavier, cheaper crude oils

  • Advanced polyolefin catalysts for creating differentiated plastics with enhanced properties


5️⃣ 6. Evonik Industries AG

Headquarters: Essen, Germany
Key Offering: Precious Metal Compounds, Specialty Catalysts, Zeolite Catalysts

Evonik’s Catalysts business line offers a wide range of products, including precious metal compounds, immobilized catalysts, and tailored zeolites. These catalysts are essential for producing pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and performing complex chemical syntheses with high selectivity.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Focus on catalysis for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries

  • Development of sustainable catalyst solutions for energy storage and conversion

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4️⃣ 7. Shell Catalysts & Technologies

Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
Key Offering: Refining Catalysts, Gasification Technologies, Technical Services

Shell Catalysts & Technologies leverages the global energy major’s extensive R&D and operational experience to provide cutting-edge catalysts and licensed technologies to the refining and petrochemical sectors. The company offers solutions that improve efficiency, increase yield, and reduce environmental footprint.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Leading technologies for residue upgrading and sulfur removal

  • Catalysts and processes supporting the transition to a lower-carbon energy system


3️⃣ 8. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec)

Headquarters: Beijing, China
Key Offering: Refining Catalysts, Petrochemical Catalysts, Adsorbents

As one of the largest integrated energy and chemical companies in the world, Sinopec has a massive internal demand for catalysts, which it also supplies to the global market. Its catalyst subsidiary develops and manufactures a wide array of catalysts for its vast refining and chemical operations.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Significant R&D investment in catalysts for methanol-to-olefins (MTO) and other coal-chemical processes

  • Development of catalysts for producing synthetic materials and clean fuels


2️⃣ 9. LyondellBasell Industries

Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Polyolefin Catalysts (e.g., Spheripol, Spherizone)

LyondellBasell is one of the world’s largest plastics, chemicals, and refining companies and a leading licensor of polyolefin technologies. The company develops and manufactures proprietary catalysts that are integral to its high-performance process technologies used by producers globally.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Pioneer in catalysts for producing advanced polyolefins with improved sustainability profiles

  • Focus on developing catalytic solutions for circular economy, including plastics recycling


1️⃣ 10. Albemarle Corporation

Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Key Offering: Refining Catalysts, Performance Catalyst Solutions, Lithium

Albemarle is a global specialty chemicals company with leading positions in lithium, bromine, and catalysts. Its Catalyst business segment provides fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and additives and hydroprocessing catalysts that are essential for producing cleaner transportation fuels.

Innovation & Sustainability Focus:

  • Development of catalysts that enable refiners to meet stringent fuel sulfur specifications

  • Innovation in catalysts for the production of biofuels and renewable chemicals

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Industrial Catalysts is Smarter and Greener

The industrial catalysts market is undergoing a significant transformation, moving beyond its traditional role to become a key enabler of sustainability and digitalization in the chemical industry. While demand from established sectors like petroleum refining remains strong, the most dynamic growth is occurring in areas aligned with the global green transition.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Accelerated Demand for Sustainability: Catalysts for producing biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and green hydrogen are seeing rapid adoption.

  • Circular Economy Drivers: Development of advanced catalysts for chemical recycling of plastics is a major R&D focus for leading companies.

  • Digitalization and Advanced Modeling: Use of AI and machine learning to design new catalysts and optimize processes is reducing development time and improving performance.

  • Stringent Environmental Regulations: Global regulations on fuel quality and emissions continue to drive innovation in refining and emission control catalysts.

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Industrial Catalysts Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled above are not just supplying chemicals; they are providing the molecular tools that underpin modern civilization and are actively building the foundation for a more sustainable industrial future.