Debrecen4U December 1, 2025

The Eco Pro BM Hungary factory in Debrecen has been inaugurated

The plant is situated in Debrecen’s Southern Economic Zone and provides employment for 630 people. Europe’s first Korean cathode material production base is set to begin series production early next year.

The foundation stone of the Korean factory was laid in the Southern Economic Zone in 2023, and the plant was handed over on Friday. At the ceremony, the President of EcoPro Lee DongChe expressed his gratitude to the city of Debrecen and the Hungarian state for their generous support.

“This is Europe’s first Korean cathode material production base, designed to produce 54,000 tons of cathodes annually. Following the start of trial production at the end of October, full‑scale series production is scheduled to begin early next year,” Lee DongChe, President of EcoPro, said.

“A forward‑looking chapter in Debrecen’s history is now opening, as an industry begins operating in the city that will serve as a cornerstone of a new technological era,” Mayor László Papp stated at the handover ceremony. He added that Debrecen is not merely following global changes, but actively participating in shaping them.

“The decision by Korea’s EcoPro to establish its first factory outside of Korea here in our city—on 44 hectares—is clear proof that Debrecen has become one of the most promising industrial and technological centers in Europe. Cathode production is a key element of this progress, representing one of the most advanced and complex sectors today,” the mayor highlighted.

“According to European industry data, the electric car market is rebounding, with sales rising by 25 percent in the first nine months compared to the same period last year,” State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Levente Magyar said. “Once EcoPro reaches full capacity, it will be able to produce cathode components for batteries sufficient to power 1.3 million cars. In other words, the plant’s annual output will amount to roughly three‑quarters of total European electric car sales,” he summarized.

The plant provides employment for 630 people.

Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu