INEOS Phenol delays Doel (Antwerp) plant restart beyond 2027
- Planned late‑2027 restart of the Doel (Antwerp) phenol plant has been postponed.
- Market recovery remains insufficient amid volatile supply/demand and weak automotive demand driven by increased Chinese car imports, reducing phenol and acetone demand.
- High European energy costs and carbon taxation, which competitors do not face, make petrochemical economics extremely challenging.
- Gladbeck (Germany) will continue production beyond 2027; Doel will provide logistics, receive maintenance investments and remain available for a future restart.
Decision
Management informed staff that the planned restart of the Phenol Doel plant will be delayed; a possible late 2027 restart previously announced in June of last year will not proceed as scheduled.
Reasons
Market recovery remains insufficient amid continued volatility on European and global supply and demand. Demand from the European automotive industry, a major consumer of phenol and acetone, has been under severe pressure due to significantly increased imports of Chinese cars, which directly impacts phenol and acetone demand in Europe. High energy costs in Europe and carbon taxation, costs that competitors do not have, have also made European petrochemical production economics extremely challenging.
Operational impact
As a result, the Gladbeck (Germany) site will continue production beyond 2027. The Antwerp (Doel) site will continue to provide logistics services to local customers; necessary investments are being made to maintain the plant and preserve the option to restart when market conditions sustainably recover.
Timing and outlook
The announcement was made now because resuming production at Antwerp next year would require preparation to begin immediately. All options remain open pending a sustainable market recovery.
Source: INEOS
