China produces 39 Mt of hydrogen, and 85% becomes industrial feedstock

China produced more than 39 million tonnes of hydrogen in 2025, and about 85% went to methanol, ammonia, refining and coal chemicals, according to an article by Dr. Wang Zhiqiang. By his figures, 59% came from coal, and operating renewable capacity was barely above 250,000 t a year.

For the author, hydrogen has proven itself as an industrial input, not yet as a universal energy source. The IEA Global Hydrogen Review 2026 shows the investment side: new final investment decisions in low-emissions hydrogen fell below 0.8 Mt a year in 2025, after two years of about 1 Mt a year each.

Committed projects add up to about 4.3 Mt of production in 2030, and could exceed 6 Mt with new decisions in 2026 or 2027, according to the IEA. Replacing fossil hydrogen in ammonia, methanol and refining has a known buyer. Opening new energy uses requires proving the economics of the extra conversion steps.

Early capital follows demand that already exists. Low-emissions hydrogen grows first where it replaces an input, and later where it competes with direct electrification.