ExxonMobil to close Gravenchon, France cracker and related derivative units in 2024

LONDON (ICIS)—ExxonMobil Chemical France has announced plans to close its chemical production at Gravenchon, in Normandy in France in 2024, subject to the relevant government approvals.

According to a press release, the steamcracker and related derivatives units and logistics facilities will be shut down. The company said the site has lost more than €500 million since 2018 and despite efforts to improve the site’s economics, it remains uncompetitive.

According to the ICIS Supply & Demand database, the cracker has the capacity to produce 425,000 tonnes/year of ethylene and 290,000 tonnes/year of propylene and was started up in 1967.

A butadiene (BD) unit is also at the site and associated derivatives include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP).

ExxonMobil’s nearby Port Jerome refinery will continue to operate supplying fuels, lubricants, basestocks and asphalt.

The closure will impact 677 jobs through 2025.

ExxonMobil said this planned closure is entirely separate from the Esso S.A.F. announcement regarding its proposed sale of the Esso Fos-sur-Mer refinery and South France logistics assets.

Charles Amyot, president of ExxonMobil companies in France said: “It has been a very difficult decision for us to take, but we cannot continue to operate at such a loss.”

This week Saudi Arabia’s Sabic also revealed plans to permanently close its Olefins 3 cracker – one of two at their Geleen, Netherlands site.