Restructuring: Evonik to Shut Down its Malonate Plant as Scheduled
In June of this year, Evonik Industries will close the malonates plant in Niederkassel, a city on the Rhine River, as scheduled, thereby reaching an important goal in the long-term restructuring of the Niederkassel site. In line with a concept adopted at the end of 2006, the company wants to secure the future of the site in the long run by concentrating on products with good long-term market prospects. In Niederkassel, then, Evonik will concentrate on alcoholates, which are used in producing biodiesel fuel, and on potassium derivatives. The long-term market prospects for both product groups are good, according to the company
Producing malonates, which are used primarily as precursors in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and perfume industries, is no longer profitable in Europe. The reasons are overcapacity and raw material prices, which are too high compared to those in other countries. In particular, businesses in China have intensified the competition. The employees who have been working in the malonate plant so far will be used in other production areas at the facility. Evonik currently employs about 600 people in Niederkassel.
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