Cornerstone to close US ACN plant in June on financial, economic challenges

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US-based Cornerstone announced on Thursday the decision to mothball its acrylonitrile (ACN) operations in Waggaman, Louisiana, effective 30 June.

“Despite significant efforts to adapt to an evolving marketplace, the [ACN] business’ financial challenges, exacerbated by oversupplied global markets for [ACN] and increasing raw material costs, have led to the difficult but necessary decision to exit the business at this time,” the company said.

The plant has a capacity of 240,000 tonnes/year, according to ICIS Supply & Demand Database, and makes up about 15% of US ACN capacity.

Unigel had stopped ACN production in Brazil in 2024.

ICIS forecasts that US ACN demand in 2025 would be 130,000-200,000 tonnes lower than in 2024.

Roehm will end methyl methacrylate (MMA) production in Fortier, Louisiana – where Cornerstone is located – by June. Roehm’s new plant in Bay City, Texas is expected to start operations in Q1. This facility will not use hydrogen cyanide, which is a by-product of ACN manufacturing.

Downstream of ACN, several companies downstream have announced plans to close facilities.

INEOS Styrolution is closing its acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) production site in Addyston, Ohio. The plant has a capacity of 195,000 tonnes/year, according to ICIS Supply & Demand Database. Decommissioning will commence in Q2.

US-based nylon 6,6 producer Ascend Performance Materials is shutting down remaining operations in Greenwood, South Carolina by early 2025. The nylon 6,6 fibers plant has a capacity of 135,000 tonnes/year, according to ICIS Supply & Demand Database.

Export demand for US ACN has also weakened. US ACN exports in 2024 fell by 40% from 2023.

With additional reporting by Ramesh Iyer

Thumbnail Photo: Cornerstone site