UPM to commence deliveries of renewable rubber fillers from Leuna biorefinery by Q3 2026

Finnish bio-based materials giant UPM Biochemicals will begin shipping renewable functional fillers (RFFs) produced at its €1.37 billion Leuna, Germany biorefinery to customers by the end of September 2026. The facility, which represents a €1,370 million investment, has an annual capacity of 220,000 tonnes and will supply lignin-based RFFs as fossil-free alternatives to carbon black and other rubber fillers used in tires, automotive profiles, hoses, seals, footwear, flooring and other applications. UPM-Kymmene Corp. president and CEO Massimo Reynaudo confirmed in the company’s first-half 2026 report that ramp-up is proceeding on schedule, with deliveries of RFFs and other lignin derivatives slated for the third quarter of 2026. Reynaudo stated that commercial interest remains robust, backed by confirmed customer contracts and a sales pipeline exceeding the site’s annual capacity by several times. The Leuna biorefinery, which converts wood into lignin and sugars, is projected to reach full production and positive EBIT during 2027. UPM positions the wood-based biochemicals as enabling brands to differentiate in the market while delivering superior technical performance and supporting the shift from fossil-based raw materials to sustainable alternatives across multiple end-use sectors.