en.Wedoany.com Reported - INEOS has decided to postpone the planned restart of its Doel phenol plant in Antwerp, Belgium, with the original target of resuming production by the end of 2027 no longer achievable. The company's management has communicated this decision to employees.

The primary reason for the delay is the ongoing volatility in supply and demand across Europe and globally, as the market recovery remains insufficient. The European automotive industry, a key consumer of phenol and acetone, is under severe demand pressure due to a significant increase in Chinese car imports, which directly suppresses European demand for phenol and acetone. Additionally, high energy costs and carbon taxes in Europe—costs that competitors do not bear—pose significant challenges to the economic viability of European petrochemical production.

As a result, INEOS's plant in Gladbeck, Germany, will continue production after 2027. The Antwerp (Doel) plant will continue to provide logistics services for local customers; the company is making necessary investments to maintain the facility and retains the option to restart the plant when market conditions sustainably recover.

INEOS stated that it is announcing this now because preparations would need to begin immediately if production were to resume in Antwerp next year. All options remain open until a sustainable market recovery occurs.

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