The European chemical industry’s 'shutdown wave': Exactly how many chemical plants have been shut down? Listed one by one for you.

In April 2024, when ExxonMobil announced the permanent shutdown of its 425,000-ton-per-year ethylene plant in Gravenchon, France, the industry viewed it merely as a routine 'cost optimization.' No one anticipated that this would trigger the most concentrated shutdown wave in European chemical industry history. Within just 15 months—from the North Sea coast to Mediterranean ports—smokestacks at chemical facilities successively went dark: a total of 21 multinational corporations, over 40 large-scale units, and more than 15 million tons/year of capacity were placed on the 'death list.' If all plans proceed as scheduled, by the end of 2027, Europe will permanently lose 4.6 million tons of ethylene, 2.28 million tons of propylene, and 430,000 tons of butadiene—equivalent in scale to two world-class petrochemical bases in China. ExxonMobil: In April 2024, announced the permanent shutdown of its ethylene steam cracker and associated facilities in Gravenchon, France, with an ethylene capacity of 425,000 tons/year. LyondellBasell: Between March 2024 and June 2025, implemented a series of exit measures. — Jointly decided with Covestro to permanently shut down the propylene oxide/styrene monomer unit at the Maasvlakte plant in the Netherlands, with capacities of 315,000 tons/year of propylene oxide and 640,000 tons/year of styrene. — Plans to sell its four European olefins and polyolefins assets and related businesses to AEQUITA; the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026. SABIC: Announced its shutdown plan covering April 2024 to June 2025. — To shut down its 575,000-ton/year cracker at the Green plant in the Netherlands. — To permanently shut down Olefin VI steam cracker at Wilton, Teesside, UK, with an ethylene capacity of 865,000 tons/year—idle since its October 2020 maintenance. Dow: In July 2024, announced the closure of three chemical plants in Europe. — To shut down its ethylene cracker in Böhlen, Germany, and its chlor-alkali/vinyl assets in Schkopau, with production cessation expected in Q4 2027. — To close its base silicone factory in Barry, UK (capacity: 145,000 tons/year), scheduled for mid-2026. — To shut down its Schkopau chlor-alkali plant, with capacities of 250,000 tons/year chlorine, 275,000 tons/year caustic soda, 250,000 tons/year EDC, and 390,000 tons/year VCM—closure expected in Q4 2027. AkzoNobel: Between 2024 and May 2025, progressively closed certain capacities. — Plans to close production sites in Wapenveld, the Netherlands, and Machelen, Belgium, consolidating output into other regional facilities. — To close three production bases across Europe and Africa: Groote-Ammers (Netherlands), Cork (Ireland), and Lusaka (Zambia). Huntsman: Implemented multiple shutdown measures between February and May 2025. — May close its European polyurethane plants. — Following evaluation on May 28, decided to shut down its maleic anhydride plant in Moers, Germany, by the end of Q2.

The 'King of Engineering Plastics': High-end grades rely on imports, while low-end grades are already oversupplied—the market is literally 'ice and fire.'

Polycarbonate (PC) is hailed as the 'King of Engineering Plastics,' prized for its exceptional strength, toughness, heat resistance, and optical clarity—making it indispensable in automotive lightweighting, electronics & optics, new energy, and other high-value sectors. As of 2025, China accounts for over 40% of global PC capacity (exceeding 4.5 million tons/year), yet domestic high-end product localization remains below 30%, while low-end products are already facing overcapacity. Driven by policy, industry transformation is accelerating: non-phosgene processes now account for 35% of domestic production, and emerging technologies—including bio-based PC—are entering pilot-scale testing. Despite numerous challenges—including volatility in bisphenol-A (BPA) raw material prices and international technology restrictions—PC continues to lead advanced material innovation and industrial upgrading, thanks to its irreplaceable comprehensive performance. I. Industry Status and Core Characteristics Supply-Demand Dynamics: Capacity Expansion vs. Structural Imbalance According to the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (2023 Report), China’s total PC capacity stood at 3.8 million tons/year in 2023 and is projected to reach 4.5 million tons/year by 2025—over 40% of global capacity—yet low-end general-purpose grades still constitute over 60% of output. On the demand side, growth in traditional construction applications has slowed to just 2–3% annually (National Bureau of Statistics data), whereas demand from high-end sectors—including new-energy vehicles and electronics/electrical appliances—is surging at 8–10% annually (CCID Consulting forecast). Technology Barriers and Industrial Chain Integration Domestic producers predominantly use the phosgene process (≈65% share), whereas the non-phosgene (melt transesterification) route—driven by environmental regulations—has become the international mainstream. High-end products, however, remain largely reliant on phosgenation; domestic high-end PC localization remains under 30% (China Chemical Society data). Bisphenol-A (BPA), accounting for 60–70% of PC production costs, saw price fluctuations of 6–8% in 2023 (ICIS Price Index); in 2024, BPA prices dropped significantly, squeezing profit margins for fully integrated PC producers. Meanwhile, low-end producers face severe cost pressure, as their products command virtually no price premium. Policy and Global Competition Per the '14th Five-Year Plan for the Petrochemical Industry,' outdated PC capacity totaling 300,000 tons/year must be phased out by 2025, while the share of non-phosgene processes must rise to over 50%. Global high-end markets remain dominated by Covestro and SABIC (combined market share >70%). In 2023, Chinese exports to Southeast Asia reached 350,000 tons (General Administration of Customs data); boosted by the commissioning of Zhejiang Petrochemical’s new facility and Wanhua Chemical’s capacity expansion, actual 2024 exports are forecast to reach 750,000–850,000 tons. II. Profit Divergence: High-End Breakthrough vs. Low-End Pressure High-end products retain significant technological barriers. Medical-grade PC (e.g., for hemodialyzers) and optical-grade PC (e.g., for AR/VR lenses) achieve gross margins of 18–22% (Wanhua Chemical Annual Report)—far exceeding those of general-purpose grades (≈8–10%). Through integrated operations (BPA self-sufficiency >70%) and specialty PC R&D, Wanhua Chemical raised its high-end product revenue share by 25% in 2023 (company annual report); in 2024, a wave of differentiated products entered the market, further strengthening Wanhua’s competitive edge in PC.

Covestro to Cut PC Production, Discontinue BPA at Antwerp Complex

21 hours ago

Covestro plans to reduce polycarbonate production lines at its Antwerp site from four to one and stop local bisphenol-A manufacturing due to unsustainable costs and Asian competition. The move affects 260 jobs as the company shifts focus to specialty grades.

icis

2026-10-15

Covestro to Cut PC Production, Discontinue BPA at Antwerp Complex

Covestro to Cut PC Production, Discontinue BPA at Antwerp Complex

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