LyondellBasell permanently shuts Brindisi PP2, the world's first Spheripol line

The PP2 unit, built in 1982, was the world's first industrial-scale Spheripol polypropylene line and produced only commodity homopolymer PP for packaging.
The site has no integrated steam cracker and depended on Eni Versalis' Brindisi cracker for up to 220,000 tonnes/year of propylene. That cracker was permanently shut in April 2025, cutting off local supply.
Feedstock must now be shipped from LyondellBasell's other Italian sites, and higher sea freight costs eroded the plant's economics entirely, according to China Chemical Information.
The company had offered the unit for sale at a symbolic price but found no buyer, according to the Uiltec union. LyondellBasell's Q2 2026 Europe, Asia and International olefins and polyolefins segment recorded EBITDA of negative $432 million, including a $734 million pre-tax impairment from the disposal of four European sites.
The company lowered planned Q3 European olefins and polyolefins operating rates to 70% from a prior 80% target.