Covestro Germany Plans to Reduce Polycarbonate Production Lines in Belgium from 4 to 1

en.Wedoany.com Reported - German chemical materials manufacturer Covestro has announced plans to restructure its Antwerp production site in Belgium, reducing the existing 4 polycarbonate production lines to 1 and ceasing local bisphenol A (BPA) production. The adjustment affects up to 260 employees, and the information and consultation procedure with employee representatives has been initiated. Meanwhile, the company confirmed that it will continue to advance the established investment plan for a new aniline production facility in Antwerp.

The Antwerp site currently has a nominal annual polycarbonate production capacity of approximately 240,000 tons. After the adjustment is completed, the retained production line will focus on high-value-added specialty polycarbonate products such as high-temperature-resistant APEC, while the other 3 production lines and the bisphenol A production business are planned to exit the local production system. The company has not yet disclosed the actual annual polycarbonate production capacity after the adjustment or the timeline for shutting down the production lines.

The Covestro Antwerp plant has approximately 970 employees, and the plan involves production and support positions, with up to 260 people affected. The group stated that its European standard polycarbonate business continues to be affected by new global production capacity and regional production costs, and the relevant production operations in Antwerp have been loss-making since 2022. The company has initiated the employee consultation procedure in accordance with Belgian labor regulations.

The production line adjustment does not involve the existing polyether production business or the technology center in Antwerp. The previously announced new aniline facility will continue to proceed as originally planned, and the related investment will be used to expand the production role of the Antwerp site in Europe's aniline supply system. The technology center at the site will continue to undertake research and development of polycarbonate production process technologies.