INEOS announced on September 22, 2026 that it was shutting three units at Hull, with two already stopped and the third due within days. The units have combined capacity of 500,000 tonnes/year of acetic acid, 150,000 tonnes/year of acetic anhydride and 200,000 tonnes/year of ethyl acetate, described as Europe's last world-scale acetyls cluster.
INEOS had invested GBP 30 million in 2025 to switch part of the process from natural gas to hydrogen, cutting gas consumption by 33%. However, European gas prices are about 12 times US levels and around eight times China's coal-based route, and gas serves as both fuel and feedstock.
Evonik announced on September 11, 2026 that it would close small sites in Hamburg (about 50 staff, cosmetic and personal care ingredients) and Bitterfeld (about 40 staff, chlorosilanes), by mid-2027 and end-April 2027 respectively, citing overly fragmented structures and high costs. Evonik will consolidate production at Essen and Rheinfelden.
The Bitterfeld line also faces rising Asian supply of high-purity silicon tetrachloride and persistently low utilisation rates.
Insights / Supply Chain
Supply ChainTwo chemical majors announce UK and Germany plant closures
INEOS shut three acetyl units at Hull and Evonik announced closures in Hamburg and Bitterfeld, citing energy costs and fragmented production.
