BASF and ExxonMobil Collaborate to Advance Methane Pyrolysis Technology, Accelerating Low-Carbon Hydrogen Development

• Leading companies in the industry join forces to accelerate methane pyrolysis technology, producing low-carbon hydrogen and solid carbon.
• The methane pyrolysis technology enriches the technology portfolios of both companies.
• A demonstration plant is planned to be built in Baytown, Texas, USA to verify the scalability of the technology.

Ludwigshafen, Germany and Houston, USA - November 17, 2025 - BASF and ExxonMobil have reached a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly advance the development of methane pyrolysis technology, marking a key step towards providing efficient and cost-competitive low-carbon hydrogen solutions for the industrial sector. The two parties have signed a joint development agreement to collaborate on the development of methane pyrolysis technology and plan to build a demonstration plant to promote the commercial application of this technology.

Strong partnership, creating the future together.

Mike Zamora, President of ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, stated: "This collaboration will combine the technological innovation and industry experience of ExxonMobil and BASF to accelerate the development of low-carbon hydrogen. Methane pyrolysis technology has great potential, especially in areas where traditional carbon capture and storage solutions are less feasible. ExxonMobil has decades of deep technical expertise in the field of methane pyrolysis, and both parties are committed to a shared commitment to innovation."

BASF has been developing methane pyrolysis technology for several years, and the project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

Dr. Stephan Kothrade, member of the Executive Board and Chief Technology Officer of BASF Group, responsible for the Asia-Pacific region, stated: “This innovative methane pyrolysis technology can produce competitively priced low-carbon hydrogen and is expected to further reduce the carbon footprint of our product portfolio. This aligns closely with our ‘Winning with Purpose’ corporate strategy, as we aim to become the preferred chemical company for our customers, supporting their green transitions. After more than ten years of in-depth research in this field, we have developed an advanced reactor concept, which has been successfully validated in our pilot plant in Ludwigshafen. By combining BASF's process innovations with ExxonMobil's scaling expertise, we are accelerating this economically viable low-carbon hydrogen solution towards the phase of industrial application with economic feasibility.”

Competitive Low-Carbon Hydrogen Solutions

Methane pyrolysis technology utilizes electrical energy to convert natural gas or other gases (such as biogas) into hydrogen and solid carbon. This technology has several significant advantages: unlike traditional hydrogen production methods (such as steam methane reforming), the methane pyrolysis process does not produce carbon dioxide emissions; compared to water electrolysis for hydrogen production, its electricity consumption is about one-fifth of the latter, and it does not require water. Furthermore, this technology can be implemented using existing natural gas infrastructure, making it easy to deploy in various regions. Because this process does not generate carbon dioxide emissions, it is particularly attractive for areas facing challenges related to carbon capture and storage due to geological conditions, technological bottlenecks, or policy constraints.

This process can simultaneously produce two high-value products: low-carbon hydrogen and high-purity solid carbon. Hydrogen is an important energy carrier and a key raw material in the chemical industry; solid carbon can be applied in various fields such as steel and aluminum manufacturing, construction, and advanced carbon products (such as battery materials).

Demonstration factories drive commercialization progress.

Both parties plan to build and operate a demonstration plant with an annual production of approximately 2,000 tons of low-carbon hydrogen and about 6,000 tons of solid carbon products. The plant will be located at the ExxonMobil Baytown complex, serving as an important step towards commercialization and validating the scalability of the technology.

About ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil is a globally renowned international energy and petrochemical listed company, dedicated to creating solutions to improve the quality of life and meet the evolving needs of society.

The company's main business - upstream, product solutions, and low-carbon solutions - provides products essential for modern life, including energy, chemicals, lubricants, and low-emission technologies. ExxonMobil has industry-leading resource reserves and is a major global integrated fuel, lubricant, and chemical company. Additionally, ExxonMobil owns and operates the largest carbon dioxide pipeline network in the United States.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambitious goal is to become the preferred chemical company for our customers, supporting their green transformation. We combine economic success with social responsibility and environmental protection. BASF has approximately 112,000 employees worldwide, contributing to the success of customers in almost every country and industry. Our business comprises "core business" areas such as Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care, as well as "independent business" areas including Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. In 2024, BASF's global sales amounted to 65.3 billion euros. BASF's stock is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (BAS) and trades in the U.S. market as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY). For more information, please visit:www.basf.com。