Avantium announces the start-up of its Flagship Plant, with the first batch of FDCA produced
AMSTERDAM, 28 September 2026, 07:00 hrs CEST – Avantium N.V., a leading company in renewable and circular polymer materials, today announces that it has successfully produced the first batch of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) at its FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl, the world's first commercial-scale plant for the production of FDCA. The production of the first batch of FDCA marks a major start-up milestone for the FDCA Flagship Plant and follows the successful commissioning of all major process units. It paves the way for ramping up toward commercial sales, anticipated to start at the end of 2026.
The production of the first FDCA batches represents an important step in validating Avantium's proprietary FDCA technology under commercial operating conditions. Avantium will now focus on a disciplined product qualification and operating program, to ensure its product meets customer specifications, progressing from batch toward continuous operations.
Tom van Aken, CEO at Avantium, commented: "Producing the first FDCA at our Flagship Plant is a significant achievement and an important milestone for Avantium. This achievement marks the transition from commissioning activities to operational start-up and qualification. Our teams have worked tirelessly to reach this point, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their dedication and commitment. Our focus now shifts to optimizing operations, producing additional FDCA, completing qualification activities and preparing for commercial sales which we expect toward the end of 2026."
A successful start-up and qualification process is expected to provide commercial-scale validation of Avantium's YXY® Technology for the production of FDCA and PEF and support the advancement of licensing discussions with prospective partners worldwide. Avantium continues to expect ramp-up to full design capacity to take place over a period of 12-24 months following plant start-up.
About Avantium
Avantium is a pioneering commercial-stage company focused on renewable & circular polymer materials. Avantium develops and commercializes innovative technologies for the production of materials based on sustainable carbon feedstocks. The most advanced technology is the YXY® Technology that catalytically converts plant-based sugars into FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the key building block for the sustainable plastic PEF (polyethylene furanoate). PEF is known under the brand name releaf®, an EU registered trademark of Avantium. Avantium has successfully demonstrated the YXY® Technology at its pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands, and is in the process of starting the world's first commercial plant for FDCA in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. Avantium works in partnership with like-minded companies around the globe to develop revolutionary renewable chemistry solutions from invention to commercial scale.
Avantium’s shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Brussels (symbol: AVTX). Avantium is incorporated in the Euronext Amsterdam SmallCap Index (AScX). Its offices and headquarters are in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
For more information:
Caroline van Reedt Dortland, Director Communications
+31-20-5860110 / +31-613400179
mediarelations@avantium.com
Aarne Luten, Director Investor Relations
+31-625687714
ir@avantium.com
