KOTRA, together with the Korea Hydrogen Industry Association and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, operated a Korea Pavilion at the 2026 World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition (WHS), the world's largest hydrogen industry exhibition, held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on the 20th and 21st (local time), the agency said on the 21st.
This year's WHS was held on its largest scale ever, with 77 countries participating and more than 10,000 visitors attending. National pavilions were set up by 23 countries including Korea, and 'CCUS World,' a global business event for low-carbon industrial transition, was held concurrently.
KOTRA has participated in WHS every year since 2022 to support Korean companies in building European networks. At this year's event, KOTRA held a 'European Hydrogen Project Briefing' on the day before the opening, sharing information on the Netherlands' hydrogen industry status and key projects including the Rhine Hydrogen Logistics Network (RH2INE).
"The European hydrogen logistics market is at a stage where, alongside technology demonstration, the institutional foundation is being formed including transport regulations and refueling infrastructure," Project Director Tom Berlinden said. "It is very meaningful for Korean companies to understand this trend early and explore cooperation opportunities with European partners."
Nine innovative companies spanning the entire hydrogen lifecycle—from production to storage, transport and utilization—participated in the Korea Pavilion, including Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and Hanwha Aerospace (012450.KS). Hyundai Motor in particular unveiled new hydrogen vehicle models and new water electrolysis stack technology.
Major buyers also visited the Korea Pavilion, including TNO, the Netherlands' leading applied science research organization, and global engineering firm Haskoning.
KOTRA also held a promotional session for attracting investment to the hydrogen industry, jointly with the Jeollanam-do Provincial Government and the Ulsan Free Economic Zone Authority.
After the exhibition, the Korean participants plan to visit Dutch hydrogen production company HyGear and ship energy demonstration specialist Marine Zero Emission Lab to explore cooperation possibilities in the next-generation hydrogen value chain.
"In the wake of the Middle East war and the climate crisis, the world will accelerate its transition to post-coal energy sources such as hydrogen," KOTRA Vice President Kim Myung-hee said. "We will do our best to provide support linked with overseas demand so that our companies can preempt the market in energy efficiency and transition fields."
