Tronox to Cease Operations at Dutch Titanium Dioxide Plant Affecting 240 Employees

On March 17, 2025, Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE: TROX), a leading manufacturer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment, announced the decision to permanently shut down its titanium dioxide plant located in Botlek, Netherlands, which has an annual capacity of 90,000 tons. This decision follows a strategic review of the company’s asset portfolio and comes after the plant was already closed due to a chlorine supply failure on March 6, 2025. Tronox has communicated to its Dutch workforce that production at this facility is not expected to resume after negotiations with the factory council.

The company expressed confidence that this move would not impact its ability to supply customers, as it plans to leverage its diversified production network to maintain supply continuity. Approximately 240 employees at the Botlek facility will be affected by this closure.

CEO John D. Romano stated, “Today’s announcement is a result of a comprehensive assessment of our asset portfolio. The competitive landscape posed by Chinese companies over the past two and a half years has led to persistent global supply imbalances and an increasingly challenging operating environment. Shutting down the Botlek plant will optimize operations at our remaining facilities and reduce overall manufacturing costs.” He emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting its employees during this difficult transition.

Tronox anticipates that the restructuring and associated costs will range between $130 million and $160 million over the next 18 months, which includes a non-cash impairment of $55 million to $65 million related to the plant closure. The company projects annual cost savings exceeding $30 million starting in 2026, with these savings contributing to a broader goal of achieving $125 million to $175 million in sustainable, normalized cost improvements by the end of 2026. Due to these planned initiatives, Tronox expects its free cash flow for the entire year of 2025 to exceed $50 million.