Evonik to Close Dutch Carbon Black Plant

On June 21, Evonik announced a restructuring of its carbon black business that will include shutting down its plant in Botlek, Netherlands on July 31, 2010. The plant will continue to supply energy to local businesses for the next few years. With this closure, Evonik will have seven carbon black plants in Europe. The company expects to produce 1.4 million tonnes of carbon black in 2010. Evonik also announced that it would expand capacity and initiate production optimization measures at individual sites, including its plants in Korea and China. In the announcement, Evonik highlighted some of its recent investments in its carbon black business: a new plant in Brazil, an optimization program for its Chinese plant, and a comprehensive overhaul of its plant in South Africa.

Here is the press release.