Ethylene Cracker Capacity in Europe Set to Lose 505,000 mt/year by 2027

The following article was published in PetroChem Wire Daily.

Net reduction in European ethylene cracker capacity is set to reach 505,000 metric tons/year by 2027, according to Chemical Market Analytics data, following the almost 2 million mt/year of closure announcements in the year to date, according to Chemical Market Analytics data.

Article continues after infographic

Dow Chemical on July 7 announced the closure of its 510,000 mt/year Bohlen cracker by the fourth quarter of 2027, which brings a year-to-date total of 1,955,000 mt/year of ethylene capacity announced to close by 2027. The net reduction takes into account the expected startup of Ineos’ new 1,450,000 mt/year Project One cracker in Antwerp in 2027.

In addition to the Dow Chemical closure, Sabic announced that its Olefins 6 cracker, capacity 865,000 mt/year, would stay closed, and TotalEnergies will shut its 580,000 mt/year Antwerp cracker by 2027.

LyondellBasell’s agreement to sell its two European crackers in France and Germany to German private equity group AEQUITA is not included in the net reduction. The Berre cracker has a 400,000 mt/year capacity whilst the Munchmunster plant has a total of 465,000 mt/year.

The 2025 cracker closure announcements follow the ones already made in 2024 – ExxonMobil’s Gravenchon, France 440,000 mt/year cracker and Sabic’s 550,000 mt/year Geleen 3 facility in the Netherlands. Versalis announced in 2024 that it would shut its Bríndisi 440,000 mt/year cracker by April 2027, while also closing its 450,000 mt/year Priolo cracker in 2027.

The 2025 cracker closures mark an accelerated downsizing of European production capacity that followed the longest bottom of cycle downturn, one that has been exposed by the U.S. and Middle Eastern chemical feedstock cost advantage.