Business · Companies · 10 hrs ago
Dow to close Schkopau chemical units after failing to find buyer
Dow found no buyer for parts of its Schkopau plant in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, and says the units will close as planned.
The affected facilities make chlorine-based chemicals, and Dow had announced in July 2025 that its chlor-alkali and vinyl units in Schkopau would shut by the end of 2027.
About 160 workers are affected, according to the chemical workers’ union IG BCE.
Dow says an agreement with employee representatives sets out how the effects on staff will be handled.
The closures add to pressure on the region’s chemical industry, known as the chemical triangle between Halle, Merseburg and Bitterfeld.
Evonik has also announced plans to close its Bitterfeld plant by April 2027, while an attempted takeover of Domo Chemicals’ facilities in Leuna failed after three subsidiaries went bankrupt.
Dow’s Schkopau closure remains planned for the end of 2027, and the company’s plans for a steam cracker shutdown at its Böhlen site remain unchanged.
Dow will close its chlorine-alkali and vinyl units in Schkopau after failing to find a buyer for parts of the site.
The company said the search did not produce a viable economic solution.
The planned closures are still scheduled for the end of 2027.
IG BCE, the chemical workers’ union, said 160 employees would be affected.
- Who
- Dow, the US chemical company, plans the closures. IG BCE said 160 employees are affected.
- What
- Dow will close its chlorine-alkali and vinyl units after failing to find a buyer for parts of the Schkopau site.
- When
- The closures are planned for the end of 2027.
- Where
- Schkopau, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
- Why
- Dow said its search for a buyer did not produce a viable economic solution.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Dow announced plans to close its chlorine-alkali and vinyl units in Schkopau by the end of 2027.
Dow said after a staff meeting that its search for a buyer had not produced a viable economic solution.
- Employees affected
- 160, according to IG BCE
- Planned closure
- End of 2027
- Site
- Schkopau, Saxony-Anhalt
- Units
- Chlorine-alkali and vinyl units
What people are saying
This process did not lead to a viable economic solution