44 Chemical Giants 'Slim Down' in 2025: Plant Closures, Divestitures, and Layoffs

In June, Kuraray decided to cease production of polyester resins and polyester filament yarn at its manufacturing subsidiary Kuraray Saijo Co., Ltd. In December, Kuraray decided to transfer all shares of its wholly owned subsidiary Kuraray Acrylic (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd. — which operates a cast methyl methacrylate resin sheet business — to Jiangsu Shuangxiang Group Co., Ltd. 30. Toray Industries, Japan In October, Toray announced the full sale of its 50% stake in LG Toray Hungary Battery Separator Kft. (LTHS) to LG Chem. LTHS is a 50–50 joint venture between Toray and LG Chem in Hungary, specializing in battery separators for lithium-ion secondary batteries (LIBs). 31. LG Chem, South Korea In June, LG Chem decided to sell its water treatment business to private equity firm Glenwood for KRW 1.4 trillion. LG Chem currently ranks second globally in market share for seawater desalination reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, trailing only Japan’s Toray. 32. Polyplastics Co., Ltd., Japan In October, Polyplastics announced that Daicel Corporation had decided to acquire Polyplastics’ entire business (excluding subsidiaries and affiliated companies’ shareholdings and management operations) via absorption merger, effective April 1, 2026. 33. Ube Industries, Ltd., Japan In January, Ube Industries announced a fundamental restructuring of its core businesses, deciding to shut down production lines for cyclohexanone, nylon, caprolactam, and related products, and comprehensively realign its strategic layout. In September, it announced an acceleration of the structural reform announced in January, advancing the timeline for scaling back and exiting its Thai basic chemical business from “March 2027” to “March 2026.” 34. Zeon Corporation, Japan In January, Zeon decided to freeze for approximately two years the investment plan for its U.S. subsidiary Zeon Chemicals L.P.’s Texas plant — originally intended to produce lithium-ion battery binders scheduled to commence operations in 2026. 35. Hyosung Corporation, South Korea According to Eco Jiaxing, due to environmental concerns, Hyosung Spandex (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd., located in the northern urban area of Jiaxing, had already shut down eight production lines by the end of 2023; two additional lines will be closed in July this year, another two by March 2026, and all remaining operations are slated for complete shutdown by the end of 2026. 36. SABIC In June, SABIC confirmed the permanent shutdown of its Olefins VI cracker unit located in Teesside, England, UK. The unit has an ethylene capacity of 865,000 tons/year and propylene capacity of 415,000 tons/year. SABIC has not disclosed the exact number of layoffs, but the site directly employs approximately 330 staff, with a similar number of contractors. This shutdown follows SABIC’s April 2024 announcement of the permanent closure of its Olefins III cracker unit in Herleen, the Netherlands — with annual capacities of 550,000 tons of ethylene and 325,000 tons of propylene — marking another step in its ongoing European business contraction. 37. AkzoNobel In January, AkzoNobel announced a restructuring of its French operations, including a €22 million investment to transform its Montataire plant into a flagship facility for decorative coatings production, alongside plans to eliminate 211 positions while creating 29 new ones.

Cushing – The World’s Pipeline Hub

2. Enbridge Energy Partners: 20.06 million barrels (3.189 million cubic meters). A Canadian multinational energy transportation company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, primarily engaged in energy transportation, distribution, and production across North America. It operates the longest crude oil and liquid hydrocarbon pipeline system in North America and owns and operates Canada’s largest natural gas distribution network, providing delivery services in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and New York State. 3. Enterprise Products: 3.1 million barrels (490,000 cubic meters). A mid-sized natural gas and crude oil pipeline company headquartered in Houston, Texas. 4. JP Energy Partners: 3 million barrels (480,000 cubic meters). 5. Plains All American Pipeline: 20 million barrels (3.2 million cubic meters). A New York Stock Exchange-listed company operating petroleum pipeline transportation, marketing, and storage businesses in the United States; liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) operations in Canada; and natural gas storage operations in Michigan and Louisiana, USA. It owns approximately 37 million barrels (5.9 million cubic meters) of terminal and storage capacity and about 15,000 miles (25,000 km) of crude oil pipelines. 6. Energy Transfer LP: 7.6 million barrels (1.21 million cubic meters). Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, this NYSE-listed company primarily operates pipeline transportation services for natural gas, propane, and other commodities. (II) Thirteen Major Pipeline Systems Approximately 13 pipeline systems converge in the Cushing area. Prominent among them are the Basin Oil Pipeline, Centurion Pipeline, Grand Salt Plains Pipeline, Keystone Pipeline, and Seaway Pipeline — collectively transporting crude oil produced in U.S. Midwest states, Canada, and imported oil arriving at Freeport, Texas, on the Gulf Coast, then delivering it to refineries and petroleum terminals nationwide. This concentration has earned Cushing the title of “World’s Pipeline Hub.” Major North American pipelines converging in Cushing include: 1. Basin Oil Pipeline: Operated by Plains All American Pipeline, originating in Wichita Falls, Texas, connecting various oilfields across Texas. 2. Centurion Pipeline: Transports oil from the Permian Basin in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico to Cushing. 3. Hawthorn Pipeline: Operated by Hawthorn Oil Transportation Company, spanning 17 miles, beginning in Stroud, Oklahoma — a rail unloading station receiving oil shipments from EOG Resources Inc. in Stanley, North Dakota. 4. Glass Mountain Pipeline: Operated by Rose Rock Midstream (a subsidiary of Energy Transfer LP), receiving oil from oilfields in western and central-northern Oklahoma.

Westlake completes PVCO pipe plant expansion in Wichita Falls, Texas

2 days ago

Westlake Chemical Corporation completed a major expansion of its PVCO pipe plant in Wichita Falls, Texas, adding 190,000 square feet to significantly increase North American capacity for molecular-oriented PVC pipe products.

StreetInsider

Westlake completes PVCO pipe plant in Texas

Investing.com

2026-01-04

Expectations for Global PVC Production Cuts Intensify

2026-02-24

Westlake Q4 Earnings Beat Amid Accelerated Cost Cutting

2026-03-02

Westlake Chemical Partners LP Filed Annual Report

2026-03-05

Westlake Chemical Partners Posts Full 2025 Annual Report Online