TotalEnergies has confirmed it will close a 550,000 mt/year ethylene cracker in Antwerp, Belgium, by the end of 2027. In July 2026, Dow announced its European asset restructuring plan, intending to permanently shut down its Böhlen, Germany, ethylene cracker and associated facilities in the fourth quarter of 2027. Separately, Shell is reviewing its European chemical assets and planning further capacity reductions.
The three moves share a consistent direction—reducing the scale of older cracker assets in Europe while retaining more competitive, integrated production bases.
Dow Launches European Asset Restructuring
In July 2026, Dow's board of directors approved a European asset optimization plan. Under the plan, the company will permanently close an approximately 510,000 mt/year naphtha cracker in Böhlen, Germany, in the fourth quarter of 2027, along with 250,000 mt/year of propylene capacity, 105,000 mt/year of butadiene capacity, and associated chlor-alkali facilities. Dow's Barry, UK, silicone plant will also cease operations.
Dow stated that the restructuring is aimed at improving the competitiveness of its European assets, reducing fixed costs, and concentrating resources on businesses with stronger profitability and higher growth potential.
TotalEnergies Exits Antwerp Merchant Cracker
TotalEnergies had previously announced it would close a 550,000 mt/year ethylene cracker and approximately 230,000 mt/year of propylene capacity in Antwerp, Belgium, by the end of 2027.
The company said the cracker primarily supplied ethylene to third parties. As related long-term supply contracts expire and the European market continues to lose competitiveness, continued operation is no longer economically viable.
Going forward, TotalEnergies will retain another cracker at the Antwerp site directly integrated with its downstream polyethylene units. The company explained that integrated units offer significant advantages in energy efficiency and logistics synergies and represent the core operational model for Europe going forward.
Shell Plans to Shut Down Netherlands and UK Crackers
Shell plans to close two crackers in the Netherlands and the UK by the end of 2027, with a combined capacity of approximately 1.44 million mt/year. According to Shell's annual report, the company has 1.71 million mt/year of ethylene capacity in Europe. Shell CEO Wael Sawan has publicly stated that the company is intensifying its review of persistently loss-making global chemical assets, and that further selective closures in Europe are possible.
As Dow, TotalEnergies, Shell, and other companies proceed with asset adjustments, Europe's ethylene supply capacity will continue to decline.
