Umicore
Umicore is a Brussels-headquartered global materials technology and recycling group that produces cathode active materials for EV batteries, automotive and fuel cell catalysts, infrared optics, copper electroplating solutions for semiconductors, and recycles precious metals, serving major automotive OEMs, battery cell manufacturers, and industrial enterprises across more than 50 countries.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Umicore does
Umicore is a Brussels-headquartered global materials technology and recycling group operating across four business segments: Battery Materials Solutions, Catalysis, Recycling, and Specialty Materials. The company serves large enterprise customers in automotive, battery manufacturing, electronics/semiconductors, precious metals trading, jewelry, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing, with operational presence in over 50 countries and approximately 11,230 employees worldwide. Its core technology combines material science, chemistry, and metallurgy to produce cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries, automotive and fuel cell catalysts, infrared optical materials, copper electroplating additives for advanced semiconductor packaging, and to perform pyro-hydro metallurgical refining of complex feedstocks to recover platinum group metals, gold, silver, and other precious metals.
Umicore's product portfolio is anchored by proprietary technologies including the IntraCu® copper electroplating system, the Nexyclus family of recycled-content chain-of-custody certifications (Book & Claim, Mass Balance, RJC-CoC), marine DNX® SCR catalysts, and iDLC™ diamond-like carbon coatings on proprietary GASIR® chalcogenide glass. The company operates what it describes as Europe's first fully integrated circular battery materials value chain, combining cathode production facilities in Poland and Finland with precious metals recycling at its Hoboken, Belgium site, where it claims recovery rates of 90-98% for lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. R&D is conducted across 15 technical centres globally, with a new innovation centre opened in Shanghai in April 2026 as its first R&D facility outside Europe.
The business model is direct enterprise B2B sales via dedicated account management and technical sales teams. Revenue is generated across five streams: Battery Materials Solutions (one-time licensing of cathode active materials), Catalysis (automotive, marine, fuel cell, and stationary catalysts plus precious metals chemistry), Recycling (precious metals refining and e-scrap processing on a transaction/fee basis), Specialty Materials (cobalt, electro-optic materials, and metal deposition solutions), and Precious Metals Trading & Industry (transaction-fee trading of gold, silver, and platinum group metals). Pricing for advanced materials is quote-based and negotiated directly with customers; precious metals trading prices are published on Umicore's PMM website. The company is publicly traded on Euronext Brussels (ticker: UMI), is a member of Belgium's BEL 20 index, and is supervised by the Belgian FSMA. Notable capital actions include a €499 million sustainability-linked private debt issuance in April 2024 and a €350 million European Investment Bank loan in February 2024 to finance electric-vehicle battery materials development.
Umicore firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Umicore
- Legal name
- UMICORE, NV/SA
- Website
- https://umicore.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Umicore is a Brussels-headquartered global materials technology and recycling group that produces cathode active materials for EV batteries, automotive and fuel cell catalysts, infrared optics, copper electroplating solutions for semiconductors, and recycles precious metals, serving major automotive OEMs, battery cell manufacturers, and industrial enterprises across more than 50 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Umicore industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Advanced Materials and Recycling
- NAICS
- Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251)
- SIC
- Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Lead, Zinc) (EUAIAJAB), Hazardous Waste Recycling & Recovery (Solvent Recovery, Oil Re-refining, Metals Recovery) (EUAIAFAI), E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery) (IMAKAMAG)
Keywords
Where Umicore is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Umicore business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Battery Materials Solutions: Revenue from producing and selling cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, portable electronics, and energy storage. Includes precursors, high-nickel cathode materials, and battery anode materials. Part of Umicore's growth driver targeting EV market expansion.
- Catalysis: Revenue from automotive catalysts (gasoline, diesel, hybrid), marine propulsion catalysts, fuel cell catalysts, and stationary emission control catalysts. Also includes precious metals chemistry for pharmaceutical and chemical synthesis applications.
- Recycling: Revenue from precious metals refining and recycling services, processing complex materials to recover platinum group metals, gold, silver, and other precious metals. Includes e-scrap recycling, spent automotive and industrial catalysts recycling, mining industry intermediates, and incinerator bottom ashes.
- Specialty Materials: Revenue from cobalt and specialty materials, electro-optic materials (infrared optics, germanium solutions), and metal deposition solutions for semiconductor manufacturing.
- Precious Metals Trading & Industry: Revenue from trading and selling precious metals including gold, silver, platinum group metals in various forms (investment bars, granules, sponge, powder). Also includes Nexyclus chain of custody certificates for recycled content verification.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Precious metals trading prices publicly available |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Umicore product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Umicore is a global advanced materials and recycling group that produces cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries, automotive catalysts for emission control, specialty materials for semiconductors and infrared optics, and recycles precious metals from complex waste streams. The company operates through four business groups: Battery Materials Solutions, Catalysis, Recycling, and Specialty Materials, serving automotive OEMs, battery manufacturers, industrial firms, and electronics companies across more than 50 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nexyclus: Chain of custody certification system for responsibly sourced recycled precious metals (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium), offered by Umicore Precious Metals Refining.
- IntraCu
- GASIR
- Tessella
- DNX
- iDLC
Products and services
- Battery Materials Solutions
Quantifiable outcome
- 31% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions versus 2019 baseline
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Umicore
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Umicore technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Umicore partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Nano One MaterialsminorPartnership with Canada-based Nano One Materials to integrate its patented 'One-Pot' lithium-ion battery cathode technology into broader battery-material value chains. Nano One is transitioning a cathode materials plant in Candiac, Quebec (acquired from Johnson Matthey) with Rio Tinto and Umicore as partners.
- Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPAminorCollaboration with Fraunhofer Institute IPA in Stuttgart to pilot test RoB@t2Cell robot-assisted system for safely dismantling, analyzing, and discharging used EV batteries for selective reuse or recycling. The technology will undergo industrial pilot testing at Umicore to help Europe comply with EU Battery Regulation requirements.
- HS Hyosung Advanced MaterialscoreCompleted joint venture transaction with Korea's HS Hyosung Advanced Materials for silicon-carbon composite anode materials for EV batteries. HS Hyosung acquired 80% stake in Umicore's silicon anode materials unit (Extra Mile Materials) for €120 million with plans to invest additional 1.5 trillion won over five years.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Umicore competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Johnson Matthey: UK-listed precious metals and advanced materials company with overlapping activities in automotive catalysts, battery cathode materials (now divested to Nano One/EcoPro), and precious metals chemistry. Closest direct comparable to Umicore's integrated materials and catalysis portfolio.
- Aurubis: European leader in copper recycling and non-ferrous metals refining. Comparable to Umicore's Hoboken precious metals refinery operations and non-ferrous recycling capabilities, with similar focus on multi-metal recovery from complex feedstocks.
- Sumitomo Metal Mining: Japanese vertically integrated miner and refiner producing cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries (NMC cathodes via joint ventures) and non-ferrous metals refining. Direct competitor in the global battery cathode materials market, especially for high-nickel chemistries.
- POSCO Future M: Korean cathode materials manufacturer (NCM, NCA) and battery materials supplier to major cell makers. Competes directly with Umicore in the global cathode materials market with significant capacity expansion plans for European supply.
- Boliden: Swedish mining and metals company with integrated operations in zinc, copper, and precious metals extraction and recycling. Comparable to Umicore's metals and recycling operations, particularly in non-ferrous metals recovery from electronic scrap.
- Dowa Holdings: Japanese non-ferrous metals smelter and recycler with operations in precious metals recycling, semiconductor materials, and electronic scrap processing. Comparable to Umicore's Recycling and Specialty Materials business units, especially in Japan/Asia.
- Tanaka Precious Metals: Japanese precious metals refiner and trader specializing in gold, silver, platinum group metals for industrial, jewelry, and semiconductor applications. Comparable to Umicore Precious Metals Management and Refining business units.
- Eramet: French mining and metallurgical company with operations in manganese, nickel, and alloys, including battery materials initiatives. Comparable to Umicore's cobalt and specialty materials activities and shares European regulatory exposure.
Broad incumbents
- BASF: Global chemicals incumbent with significant battery materials (cathode active materials), automotive catalysis, and precious metals trading operations. Operates at much larger scale across the full chemicals value chain, overlapping with Umicore in battery materials and catalysis segments.
- Glencore: Global mining and commodities trading giant with significant cobalt, copper, and zinc operations that supply battery materials precursors. Overlaps with Umicore's cobalt & specialty materials segment and competes on raw material supply for battery materials.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Umicore social profiles
Digital presenceUmicore financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Umicore leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Umicore subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Umicore funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Umicore M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A14 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Umicore
What does Umicore do?
Umicore is a global advanced materials and recycling group that produces cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries, automotive catalysts for emission control, specialty materials for semiconductors and infrared optics, and recycles precious metals from complex waste streams. The company operates through four business groups: Battery Materials Solutions, Catalysis, Recycling, and Specialty Materials, serving automotive OEMs, battery manufacturers, industrial firms, and electronics companies across more than 50 countries.
Is Umicore a public or private company?
Umicore is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Umicore founded?
Umicore was founded in 1989. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Umicore based?
Umicore is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Umicore make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Battery Materials Solutions are the primary driver. The others are catalysis, recycling, specialty Materials and precious Metals Trading & Industry.
Who are Umicore's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Johnson Matthey, Aurubis, Sumitomo Metal Mining, POSCO Future M, Boliden, Dowa Holdings, Tanaka Precious Metals and Eramet. Broad incumbents are BASF and Glencore.
Does Umicore have an API?
No public API is recorded for Umicore.
What industry is Umicore in?
Umicore's product category is Advanced Materials and Recycling. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFABAA, Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite), with a secondary code of EUAIAJAB, Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Lead, Zinc). Its NAICS code is 3251 and its SIC code is 3330.