Catalyxx Expands Operations to Portugal with €120 Million Bio-Based Chemicals Plant

Seville’s Catalyxx, a company specializing in bio-based chemicals, has chosen Sines, Portugal, as the location for its €120 million commercial-scale production facility. The project is being funded through a combination of private investment and public funding, with Catalyxx receiving €20 million from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking. This funding will support the Sines project, which aims to reduce emissions and strengthen European chemical supply chains.

The selection of Sines follows previous financing for Catalyxx, including a €3 million investment in its Seville technology center and pre-approval of €37 million from the European Investment Bank for an industrial plant in France. Joaquín Alarcón, Catalyxx’s CEO, stated that the Ibérica facility represents the company’s commitment to replacing fossil-based chemicals with renewable alternatives that are chemically identical and lower in carbon intensity.

Catalyxx’s award and production facility are part of a growing trend of European financing in bio-based chemicals and renewable substitutes for petrochemical materials. EU-Startups has reported approximately €58 million in funding across various transactions in this sector, with Catalyxx’s award bringing the total to around €78.3 million.

“We are excited to establish our first commercial-scale plant in Portugal and grateful for the support from Portuguese authorities,” said Joaquín. Catalyxx, founded in 2017 by Joaquín Alarcón de la Lastra Romero, focuses on converting bioethanol into cost-competitive and carbon-negative chemicals. The company’s technology aims to provide sustainable alternatives to traditional industrial chemicals, such as butanol, hexanol, and octanol, for use in various industries.

The new €120 million Catalyxx Ibérica plant in Sines will produce these chemicals from bioethanol, offering a lower-carbon alternative to petrochemical routes. The site was chosen for its industrial infrastructure, deep-water port, logistics connections, and access to renewable energy, positioning it as a strategic location for Catalyxx’s expansion.

Construction of the Sines plant is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, with engineering support from Worley and Quadrante. The project has been granted Project of National Interest status by the Portuguese Government, expediting the regulatory approval process. Catalyxx aims to demonstrate the viability of renewable chemical manufacturing on an industrial scale with the Sines facility, paving the way for international expansion.

By transitioning from demonstration-scale operations in Seville to commercial production in Sines, Catalyxx hopes to showcase the potential of renewable chemical manufacturing. The Portuguese facility will serve as the company’s first major commercial plant and support its future growth plans. “Please remember to submit your report by the end of the day.”

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