6 Oct 2025
Aramco-owned supplier cites decline in demand, competitiveness of European chemicals industry...
The Hague, The Netherlands – Arlanxeo Elastomeres France has announced plans to cease operations at its synthetic rubber production site in Port Jerome, northern France.
In a 2 Oct statement, Dutch-based parent Arlanxeo said it had initiated a consultation period with the works council regarding the planned closure.
“The European chemical industry continues to face persistent weak demand and declining competitiveness,” explained Arlanxeo CEO Stephan van Santbrink.
These pressures are being driven by "rising costs, unbalanced global markets, and increased regulatory pressure," according to van Santbrink.
Despite improvement efforts, the Port Jerome site has “remained in a structurally loss-making position,” continued the Arlanxeo leader.
“We do not foresee a viable path to a sustained structural improvement,” the chief executive concluded.
Port Jerome has an overall capacity to produce 140 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) of synthetic rubbers, including neodymium-polybutadiene (Nd-PBR) and solution styrene-butadiene polymers.
Arlanxeo operates another production site in France, at La Wantzenau.
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