Dow, headquartered in Midland, Michigan, announced July 7 it will shut down three upstream chemical assets in Europe as part of a broader effort to right-size capacity, reduce merchant exposure and remove higher-cost, energy-intensive operations. According to the company, the move supports long-term profitability in the region amid persistent cost and demand challenges.
The affected sites include an ethylene cracker in Böhlen, Germany, and chlor-alkali and vinyl (CAV) assets in Schkopau, Germany, under the Packaging & Specialty Plastics and Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segments. Both are scheduled for shutdown in the fourth quarter of 2027. In the Performance Materials & Coatings segment, Dow will also close a basic siloxanes plant in Barry, United Kingdom, by mid-2026.
The company said restructuring will involve asset write-downs, disposals and workforce reductions, with between $630 million and $790 million in total charges.
Roughly 800 roles will be affected by the shutdowns, in addition to the 1,500 positions cut in January 2025 as part of earlier cost-saving measures. Decommissioning and demolition activities may extend through 2029, the company said.
