2013 Exhibitions

Rotterdam-based LyondellBasell Industries is shutting down a high density polyethylene (HDPE) unit in Wesseling, Germany, in the third quarter of 2013.

The firm has closed around 2.5 billion pounds of capacity in Europe in recent years and streamlined headcount by 30%.

Closing this particular unit will not have a radical effect on the company’s operations as it is touted as amongst the smallest at 100,000 metric tonnes and least efficient of its HDPE operations in Europe. Its other larger scale facilities has sufficient HDPE capacity to meet customer needs, according to LyondellBasell

"LyondellBasell continues to take definitive steps to reorganise our operations in Europe to increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve the competitiveness of our businesses," said Bob Patel, senior vice-president, olefins and polyolefins, Europe, Asia and International.

"The closure of under-competitive assets, along with the restructuring and efficiency-improvement initiatives in our business areas, manufacturing and R&D, will better position LyondellBasell to compete in today's economic environment, “ he continued.