Dow to Shut Down 3 European Facilities Impacting 800 Jobs

On July 7, Dow announced that its board of directors has approved the closure of three upstream assets in Europe to address structural challenges in the region and enhance profitability. The closures are part of the company’s broader $1 billion cost-saving initiative announced earlier this year.

The affected facilities include:

• Ethylene Cracker Unit in Böhlen, Germany, under Packaging and Specialty Plastics, set to close in Q4 2025.
• Chlor-Alkali and Vinyl (CAV) Assets in Schkopau, Germany, under Industrial Intermediates and Infrastructure, also slated for Q4 2025.
• Base Silicones Plant in Barry, UK, under Performance Materials and Coatings, expected to shut down by mid-2026.

This decision will impact approximately 800 Dow employees, contributing to the global workforce reduction of around 1,500 positions announced earlier this year. Dow anticipates these closures will begin improving operating EBITDA starting in 2026, with a target of achieving 50% of the $200 million EBITDA goal by 2027 year-end and full delivery by 2029. The closures involve a $500 million cash outlay over four years.

These actions are part of Dow’s ongoing efforts to optimize its portfolio. Since 2023, Dow has conducted over 20 asset actions, including the closure of facilities in Argentina and Taiwan and the sale of non-core businesses, such as adhesives for flexible packaging.