Celanese to close Singapore nylon plant; optimise US ops
Speciality materials firm Celanese Corporation has introduced a series of strategic initiatives designed to enhance capabilities, strengthen competitiveness, simplify manufacturing footprint, and prioritise continuity of supply to customers of its Engineered Materials business.
A critical step in this nylon transition is the closure of the Sakra, Singapore, unit, as well as the optimisation of the North American nylon 6,6 polymerisation production facilities in Richmond, VA and Washington, WV, which is expected to reduce overall polymer production. Celanese expects to operate the Sakra facility through the end of July 2026 to ensure a smooth and safe operational shut down process.
“Our business strategy reflects a deliberate series of growth-oriented measures across our current product portfolio with the goal of optimising the supply chain, improving performance and increasing operational agility,” said Todd Elliott, Senior Vice President, Celanese Engineered Materials. “This nylon alignment is part of Celanese’s broader ‘Grow & Fortify’ agenda in Engineered Materials which aims at sharpening how the business supports customer growth and development while strengthening the operating foundation that ensures reliable, competitive product supply,” noted Elliott.
In addition to the nylon transition steps announced today, Celanese is also advancing a set of complementary actions across its Engineered Materials network to better align capabilities with heightened customer requirements and demand outlook. These include advancing steps toward commencing liquid crystal polymer-related operations in China, targeted upgrades of specialty compounds production in Europe, introducing new processes for medical-grade compounding in Asia, as well as the implementation of targeted product mix enhancements and localisation in India.
These actions are consistent with a series of steps the company has taken over the past years across regions to address unsustainable feedstock dynamics and network inefficiencies, which provide an important context for these actions.
“We are reshaping how and where nylon polymer is produced and sourced across our global network, and we will do so with disciplined execution,” stated Elliott. “Throughout this process, reliability and customer confidence remain a priority. We are sequencing actions thoughtfully with our customers’ experience in mind and with the goal of maintaining continuity of supply and product quality every step of the way,” concluded Elliott.
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