# Avantium Announces Start-Up of Commercial-Scale FDCA Flagship Plant

> Renewable and circular polymer specialist Avantium N.V. has initiated operations at its FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, successfully producing its first batch of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). As the world's first commercial-scale manufacturing facility for FDCA, the milestone follows the commissioning of all primary process trains and positions the company to launch initial commercial deliveries by the end of 2026.

Published: 2026-10-01T06:30:00+00:00
Language: en
Categories: [Regions](https://chemexworld.com/en/categories/regions.md), [Europe](https://chemexworld.com/en/categories/regions/europe.md), [Packaging and Packing](https://chemexworld.com/en/categories/sectors/packaging-and-packing.md)

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## Content

The production of on-spec material marks the validation of Avantium’s proprietary **YXY® Technology** under continuous commercial operating parameters.

The company is transitioning its operational focus toward rigorous customer qualification workflows, progressing from initial batch configurations into sustained continuous processing. The full ramp-up to design nameplate capacity is projected to span **12 to 24 months** following initial commissioning.

### **Commercializing PEF and Licensing Opportunities**

Successful operation at the Delfzijl complex provides commercial-scale proof-of-concept for licensing the YXY® process platform to global chemical and polymer partners.

The catalytic platform converts agricultural sugars directly into FDCA, the fundamental monomer required to synthesize polyethylene furanoate (**PEF**)—commercially branded by Avantium in the EU as **releaf®**. As a 100% bio-based polyester alternative to conventional PET, PEF delivers superior barrier properties for gases such as CO2 and oxygen alongside lifecycle emissions reductions.

**Tom van Aken (CEO of Avantium):**

> *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 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.*