Niihama Refinery + CAM

Sumitomo Metal Mining · Niihama, Japan · pCAM and CAM

Cathode precursor and material plant operated by Sumitomo Metal Mining in Niihama, Japan. Status: operational.

Niihama Refinery + CAM: cathode plant illustration with co-precipitation reactor and rotary kiln; pCAM and CAM, status operational, Japan pCAM and CAM Operational Japan
Capacity
40. kt/yr
Chemistry
NCA / NMC 811
Start year
1981
Hub
Supply Chain

Status

Operational: Operating

Product: NCA / NMC 811. Capacity: 40. kt/yr (Legacy figure; not re-verified).

SMM primary Japanese CAM producer; NCA for Panasonic 2170/4680 (Tesla supply chain); vertically integrated from Philippine nickel laterite; Toyota NMC supply growing.

Customers and offtakers: Panasonic (Tesla supply chain) / Toyota.

Plant record

Plant record

Niihama Refinery + CAM (Sumitomo Metal Mining)
CompanySumitomo Metal Mining
PlantNiihama Refinery + CAM
CityNiihama
State or provinceEhime
CountryJapan
StagepCAM+CAM
Chemistry or productNCA / NMC 811
Capacity (kt/yr)40.
Capacity basisLegacy figure; not re-verified
Statusoperational
Status noteOperating; NCA supplier for Panasonic cells
Scalecommercial
Start year1981
Investment (US$ billion)1.
Customers and offtakersPanasonic (Tesla supply chain) / Toyota
FeedstockCaptive Philippine nickel + domestic Co
Metal inputsNi / Co
Geopolitical exposureLOW
Record updated2026-10

Official site: smm.co.jp/en

In context

Where it fits

Listed in Cathode Active Materials. Cathode plants are compared on stage (chemical, precursor or finished CAM), chemistry, capacity and qualified customers; a plant qualified for one chemistry and one cell maker is not interchangeable supply.

Other plants of Sumitomo Metal Mining and other plants in Japan
PlantCountryStatus
Taganito HPAL (Sumitomo Metal Mining)Philippinesoperational

Sources

Sources and scope

Scope
Niihama Refinery + CAM (Sumitomo Metal Mining)
Sources
ElectronsX cathode dataset; company disclosures and filings
Updated
2026-10