South Korea’s Posco Future M builds NCA cathode plant

Market: Battery materials, Metals
21/03/23

South Korean battery material producer Posco Future M, previously known as Posco Chemical, is building a domestic nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) cathode facility with a 30,000 t/yr production capacity.

The firm will invest 392bn South Korean won ($299mn) to build the plant in the Yeongil Bay 4th general industrial complex in North Gyeongsang province's Pohang city, Posco Future M said on 21 March. Construction will begin in the first half of this year, with production and sales to start from 2025. The plant's annual capacity of 30,000 t/yr can supply about 300,000 60kWh electric vehicles (EVs).

Posco Future M previously started building a separate 30,000 t/yr NCMA cathode material plant at the same site in April 2022, with plans to start operations in 2024.

The firm's new investment is in accordance with a 10-year agreement the producer signed to supply domestic battery manufacturer Samsung SDI with NCA cathodes, which will support Samsung's EV battery production. Posco Future M plans to continue expanding orders for NCA material after the new plant is built.

The producer also said that NCA produced at its Gwangyang battery cathode plant, located in South Korea's South Jeolla province, will be supplied in 2023-24. The plant has a designed capacity of 90,000 t/yr for high-nickel cathodes, including nickel-cathode-manganese-aluminium (NCMA) and nickel-cobalt-manganese cathodes, and finished construction in November 2022.

Posco Future M announced on 24 February plans to change its corporate name from Posco Chemical, in line with Posco Group's aim to become a leading company of eco-friendly future materials.

By Tng Yong Li

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18/12/25

Traders offer CBAM paid import at discount to NW EU HRC

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Viewpoint: Copper supply tightness beckons in Europe

17/12/25

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17/12/25

Viewpoint: Copper supply tightness beckons in Europe

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CBAM verification to redefine Italian HRC pricing

17/12/25

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17/12/25

CBAM verification to redefine Italian HRC pricing

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Australia coal, Fe prices to fall; LNG up: Treasury

17/12/25

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17/12/25

Australia coal, Fe prices to fall; LNG up: Treasury

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Brazil steel output may fall in 2026: Aco Brasil

16/12/25

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16/12/25

Brazil steel output may fall in 2026: Aco Brasil

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