LyondellBasell's PP2 polypropylene plant at its Brindisi site in Italy formally ceased operations on Oct. 17, 2026. The unit has a nominal capacity of 230,000 metric tons per year and started up in 1982 as the world's first industrial-scale Spheripol polypropylene line, producing only general-purpose homopolymer PP for packaging.
The direct cause was the loss of propylene feedstock. The Brindisi site has no integrated steam cracker and had relied on Eni Versalis's neighboring Brindisi cracker for up to 220,000 mt/y of propylene. That cracker was permanently shut in April 2025, severing local supply.
Feedstock had to be shipped from LyondellBasell's other Italian sites, and higher logistics costs eroded margins until the plant was no longer economic. Weak European polyolefin demand and oversupply added pressure; European PP remained in oversupply in September 2026 even as producers cut rates, and an 80 euro/mt rise in October propylene contracts could not be fully passed downstream.
LyondellBasell reportedly tried to sell the plant at a symbolic price but found no buyers. The company's Q2 2026 EBITDA for its Europe, Asia and International olefins and polyolefins segment was negative $432 million, including a $734 million pretax impairment tied to the disposal of four European sites.
Since 2024, Europe's basic chemicals consolidation has removed, idled or announced closures of close to 11 million mt/y of ethylene, propylene, PP, PE and vinyl chain capacity, of which about 965,000 mt/y is polypropylene.
