Kemira commenced pilot operations for iron phosphate production at its facility in Helsingborg, Sweden. The development marks a significant milestone in the company’s expansion into battery materials and strengthens its efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable battery value chain in Western markets. Iron phosphate serves as a key chemical precursor and building block for producing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. These batteries are increasingly used in electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems and industrial applications. As global demand for LFP batteries continues to rise, manufacturers are seeking materials that offer strong safety, durability and cost competitiveness. Consequently, reliable regional supplies of critical battery materials are becoming increasingly important.
Bridging Laboratory Development and Industrial Production
Kemira’s new pilot facility provides an important link between laboratory-scale research and potential commercial-scale manufacturing. The plant allows the company to produce larger quantities of iron phosphate for customer testing, product qualification and process development. The pilot operation will help Kemira evaluate the technical and commercial requirements for a potential full-scale iron phosphate production facility.
Building a Localized Battery Materials Supply Chain
Peter Ersman, EVP, New Ventures and Services, Kemira, said the Helsingborg pilot plant represents an important step in the company’s battery materials strategy. With the facility now operational, Kemira aims to become one of the early European producers of iron phosphate focused on serving Western battery markets. As demand for battery materials increases, the company sees an opportunity to help develop a more localized, resilient and sustainable supply chain.
Strengthening LFP and pCAM Supply Chains
Through its iron phosphate initiative, Kemira aims to support precursor cathode active material (pCAM) supply chains and contribute to a more balanced battery materials ecosystem across Western markets. The company brings established expertise in inorganic chemistry, iron-based chemistries, industrial process development and scale-up technologies. Therefore, iron phosphate production represents a natural extension of Kemira’s existing technical capabilities.
Focus on Customer Qualification and Process Validation
Following the start of pilot operations, Kemira will focus on customer qualification, product validation and manufacturing process development. These activities will provide valuable insights into product performance and production scalability. Based on successful customer qualifications and continued market development, Kemira will subsequently assess the potential for investment in commercial-scale iron phosphate production. As per the press release, the Helsingborg pilot plant therefore represents an important step toward developing localized battery-material capabilities and supporting the rapidly evolving Western LFP battery supply chain.
