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Dow Chemical plant in Bohlen Germany

Dow to Shut Down Three European Chemical Plants by End of 2027

July 9, 2025
Dow will close upstream sites in Germany and the UK to reduce high-cost capacity and improve operational margins across its European portfolio.

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.

About the Author

Amanda Joshi | Managing Editor

Amanda Joshi has more than 18 years of experience in business-to-business publishing for both print and digital content. Before joining Chemical Processing, she worked with Manufacturing.net and Electrical Contracting Products. She’s a versatile, award-winning editor with experience in writing and editing technical content, executing marketing strategy, developing new products, attending industry events and developing customer relationships. 

Amanda graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2001 with a B.A. in English and has been an English teacher. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and daughter, and their mini Aussiedoodle, Riley. In her rare spare time, she enjoys reading, tackling DIY projects, and horseback riding.

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