Micro-structured alumina hollow fibres, which contain a plurality of radial micro-channels with significant openings on the inner surface, have been fabricated in this study and used to develop an efficient catalytic hollow fibre reactor. Apart from low mass transfer resistance, a unique structure of this type facilitates the incorporation of Ni-based catalysts, which can be with or without the aged secondary support, SBA-15. In contrast to a fixed bed reactor, the catalytic hollow fibre reactor shows similar methane conversion, with a GHVS of approximately 6.5 times higher, together with a significantly greater CO 2 selectivity and better productivity rates. All these prove the advantages of dispersing catalyst inside the micro-structured hollow fibre together with potentially reducing the quantity of catalysts required.