Johnson Matthey’s Perstorp, Sweden site to expand by 50% to meet increasing demand for formaldehyde

Johnson Matthey (JM), a global leader in sustainable technologies, has announced the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Perstorp, Sweden, to meet growing demand for formaldehyde – a versatile building block used in various everyday products. The expansion, which will be operational by the end of March 2024, will increase the site’s capacity by approximately 50%.  

Formaldehyde is an important component used in applications across many industries. It is used to produce biodegradable plastics and building components such as resins and adhesives for wood products, as well as paints, pharmaceuticals, and seat belts and windscreen wipers in the automotive sector. 

Increasing demand for formaldehyde has partly been driven by the chemicals market in China where new legislation has been introduced to phase out the use of single-use plastic by 2025. 

Alberto Giovanzana, Managing Director for Catalyst Technologies at Johnson Matthey said: “By expanding our Perstorp site, we will be best placed to meet the global demand for this versatile chemical, and ensure the team at Perstorp can continue to deliver for its customers around the world.” 

JM is the global leader for metal oxide formaldehyde plant licencing and catalyst sales, holding a significant market share. It has a 63-year history in Perstorp, with more than 1,000 people working at the site. This formaldehyde catalyst capacity expansion is one the strategic investment milestones JM outlined in May 2022.