Celanese mulls closing acetyls plants in Mexico, France

21 January 2009 14:44  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS news)--US chemicals major Celanese is assessing the potential closure of acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) production in Mexico and France as it responds to the global decline in demand, it said on Wednesday.

“We are evaluating, along with other possible actions, the best means to align production capacity and worldwide staffing with anticipated prolonged lower demand,” CEO David Weidman said.

Celanese’s VAM plant in Cangrejera, Mexico, has a capacity of 115,000 tonnes/year.

The company’s Pardies site in France has capacities of 450,000 tonnes/year of acetic acid and 150,000 tonnes/year of VAM.

Should the facilities be closed, Celanese would supply customers from its other plants in North America, Europe and Asia, it said.

Last week, Celanese had already said it planned to reduce its workforce.

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By: Stefan Baumgarten
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