Covestro said on Oct. 15, 2026 that it intends to consolidate polycarbonate production at its Antwerp, Belgium site from four operating lines to one and to discontinue production of PC feedstock bisphenol A at the location. The company has started a formal information and consultation process with employee representatives under Belgian law, and no final decision will be taken until that process is complete.
The Antwerp site has a PC nameplate capacity of 240,000 metric tons per year, according to a company spokesperson. S&P Global Energy CERA estimates the site's BPA capacity at about 245,000 mt/y. The restructuring could affect up to 260 of the site's 970 employees.
Covestro said its Antwerp PC business has been increasingly loss-making since 2022 because of weak European demand, high energy and production costs, and persistent global overcapacity in standard PC grades. Global PC capacity has expanded by roughly 30% since 2021, with further additions planned.
The remaining PC line will focus on higher-value specialty grades, and the company said its previously announced investment in a new aniline production unit at Antwerp will proceed as planned. Polyether lines and the site's technology center are unaffected. BPA can be sourced from Covestro's global network or external suppliers if needed.
Platts assessed DDP Northwest Europe BPA at 1,770 euros per metric ton on Oct. 13, PC extrusion grade at 2,000 euros/mt and GP molding grade at 2,300 euros/mt on Oct. 14.
