Continental to discontinue operations at textile plant in US

Fort Mill, South Carolina - Continental AG has announced a decision to discontinue operations at its Aldora Mills textile manufacturing plant in Barnesville, Georgia (US), by the end of 2026.

The facility employs 230 people and produces textile reinforcement materials, including tire cord fabric, hose yarn and knitted fabric, which are used exclusively within Continental’s Tires and ContiTech group sectors.

In a 14 Nov statement, Continental said the decision followed “a comprehensive business review” of profitability, competitiveness, and business performance in the Americas region.

“The plant has not been cost competitive for many years despite continuous turnaround efforts,” said the German group.

Furthermore, it cited “ongoing changes in global market dynamics and supply chains” as additional reasons for the planned closure.

Continental stressed that the US remained a key market for the group and reaffirmed its commitment to the market.

With tire manufacturing operations in Plymouth, Indiana; Clinton, Mississippi; Sumter, South Carolina; and Mount Vernon, Illinois; Continental’s US tire plants have an annual production capacity of more than 16 million tires.

In total Continental employs more than 8,800 people in the US, in both its group sectors Tires and ContiTech.

In the last decade, Continental said it invested €1.5 billion in its tire manufacturing operations in the US.