#chemicals

Goodyear is laying off 51 employees at its Niagara Falls plant. This reduction is part of a larger plan to eliminate 85 positions across two chemical facilities. The company aims to complete these workforce adjustments by the end of 2027. This move signifies a significant restructuring for Goodyear's chemical operations. The affected plant is located in Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls, New York

https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2026/10/28/niagara-falls-goodyear-plant-51-layoffs.html

Shell and ExxonMobil are jointly exploring a sale of their 50% stakes in UK-based specialty chemicals joint venture Infineum, targeting an indicative valuation of about $8 billion, but the process is early and may not lead to a deal

What’s happening
According to the Financial Times and Reuters, Shell and ExxonMobil have appointed Bank of America to run a sale process for Infineum

The Oxfordshire‑headquartered company, founded in 1999, produces fuel and lubricant additives sold in roughly 90 countries, with products used in about one‑third of all vehicles worldwide and 70% of electric vehicles

Valuation and financials
Target valuation: ~$8 billion

Annual EBITDA: $700 million–$800 million

Implied multiple: ~10x–11.4x EBITDA

Potential proceeds: ~$4 billion gross to each parent if sold

This is a premium to BP’s $10.1 billion sale of 65% of Castrol in late 2025, which traded at ~8.6x EBITDA

Strategic context
The sale aligns with Shell’s plan to reduce its chemicals exposure by 2030 and refocus capital on oil and gas

ExxonMobil has not publicly commented on the strategy, but both owners must agree to any sale

The move comes amid industry pressures from electric vehicle adoption (reducing engine oil demand) and base oil oversupply

Status and outlook
Stage: Early, exploratory; no deal confirmed

Potential buyers: Private equity firms are expected to be among the main suitors

Market impact: Analysts expect limited immediate effect on crude oil or commodity markets, but a competitive auction could influence specialty chemicals valuations

In summary: Shell and ExxonMobil have placed Infineum on the sales block at an $8 billion target, but the process is preliminary, and a transaction is not guaranteed. The sale reflects both corporate strategy shifts and sector‑wide pressures in the lubricants and chemicals markets

As part of D&S, will they downgrade/mandatory retire the numerous low value adding execs? You can probably get 2-3 employees for those in HC10 locations.

Especially downstream and chemicals, why the f--k do you have so many execs?

If you weren't thinking of this DWW already, you have heard it now

Exxon? Kuwait? Lyondell? Private Equity?

Hearing no one wants every site and it might get parted out

BASF is reportedly in exploratory negotiations to acquire Evonik, another major German chemical company. This potential merger comes as both companies face challenges in the cosmetics and personal care raw materials sector, with slowing growth and increased competition. The deal could significantly reshape the global beauty and personal care ingredient market if it proceeds. Both companies have complementary strengths, with BASF offering scale and a broad product line, while Evonik excels in specialty chemicals and high-end additives. The move may signal a broader trend of consolidation in the upstream beauty industry as companies seek to navigate market pressures.

https://eu.36kr.com/en/p/4003124352667784

The vibe of the townhall seemed like a 3 hr 1970s indie movie were absolutely nothing happens!
The usual cry over the ongoing demise of Chemicals business (probably the 10th quarter and still pending).

Funny that an organization that keeps talking about Decision Quality (they spend millions in building those very DQ tools) had such poor time management in their townhall that half of the VPs weren't able to present - a prime demonstration of how pathetic Technology org is in planning, management and execution!
Leaders incharge of innovation within Technology, feeling absolutely delighted about working with Universities and external parties, rather than focusing on innovating something within Shell. Unnecessary blabber about Data and AI when infact IDT are the rightful owners of it.
The sheer audacity of the leaders to say that 'there is no reorganization planned for technology', at a time when all other functions have been shaken to their core, is pure delusional if not foolishness.

Any Thoughts? Comments?

Is it a thing here? I work for another corp and recently saw the influx of lab techs with PhDs in Chem/ChemE. I guess that’s why ordinary folks can’t get a job anymore, this and AI / jobs offshoring.

Agricultural science firm FMC Corp. is reducing its workforce by 41 employees at its Mobile County facility. This decision comes as the company experiences a decline in revenue. The layoffs are scheduled to take effect at the end of October. FMC Corp. is a Philadelphia-based company that manufactures agricultural chemicals. The company's financial performance has led to discussions about a potential sale.

Mobile, Alabama

https://www.al.com/business/2026/08/philadelphia-based-agricultural-science-laying-off-41-in-mobile-county-as-revenue-falls.html

Chase Corporation will lay off 72 employees. These job cuts will occur between August and December. The affected employees work at the Oxford, Massachusetts location. A WARN notice detailed the upcoming layoffs. Chase Corporation is a global chemical manufacturer.

Oxford, Massachusetts

https://www.masslive.com/centralmass/2026/06/72-employees-face-layoffs-from-global-chemical-manufacturer-in-worcester-county.html

Minnesota is again suing 3M Co. over contamination from its products containing “forever chemicals,” this time concerning pollution at its Cottage Grove manufacturing facility.

A local plant announced significant layoffs. The company is BASF. Half of its workforce will be laid off. This represents about half of the town's population. The layoffs will have community impacts.

Bay Minette, Alabama

https://www.wkrg.com/video/community-impacts-on-basf-production-layoffs/11754866/

I noticed several people are shown open to work at LinkedIn.

Heard a couple of Execs who’ve been around forever at SL Chemicals were "moved aside", True?

Is there anyone who thinks the project Starbust for chemicals can go well? I hear they are planning large staff cuts on top of the voluntary severance going on now, and the new org will be based on agile working methodology. Who thinks that’s a good idea? Using a philosophy designed for software development for a chemical manufacturing plant? Do they realize they are going to lose basic but important skills like navigating SAP? Even the people that are left will have such low morale and buy in. This feels like the latter days of Enron or some other business failure. Am I wrong - does someone out there think there is a chance these changes will be great?

PMC Biogenix will close its Memphis plant. The shutdown is scheduled for April. This action will affect local workers. These employees earn an average wage of $94,000. The chemical manufacturer operates this facility.

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2026/03/04/pmc-biogenix-layoffs-chemical-manufacturing.html

What am I missing? I’ve always heard that a major integrated oil company needs chemicals as a hedge for low oil prices as that spread drives higher chemicals margins. I get that the European sites won’t benefit from this because of the cultural and policy insanity there destroying the framework for industrial profitability, but in the US Geismar is proving this point. Pennsylvania polymers has had the delays, cost overruns, flare issues, furnace blow up, emissions fines, community hatred but besides that it’s gone great. Deer Park has the most expensive ethylene on the gulf coast but at least they also had a major fire. Ok maybe I’ve answered my own question. I mean what lucky company wouldn’t want to buy up all this lol.

Chemours Announces Layoffs; Offerman Plant Stays Open

https://www.theblacksheartimes.com/article/9831,chemours-offerman-mill-to-stay-operational

This news is about layoffs happening in southeast Georgia, USA. Chemours — a chemical company with mining and processing operations in Georgia — announced that it will cut jobs at several of its facilities there while keeping its Offerman plant in Offerman, Georgia operational. The layoffs affect workers at other Chemours sites in the region, including locations in Jesup and Nahunta, Georgia, where dozens of employees will be let go

Big report announced today by Emma Lewis for the Commercial team. Looks like a 46% headcount reduction. This is the first of a long and painful journey—to what? No one knows as they are not part of the natural family. Tired of this!!

Any rummors about possible divestment of Shell Chemicals ? Have heard that they want to somehow separate it.

The hole gets deeper.

• Activist investor Standard Latitude, which recently disclosed a stake of just over 5%, could accelerate portfolio reviews and divestments. This makes Standard Latitude the 8th largest shareholder.

• Barclays has lifted its rating on Croda International PLC from 'equal weight' to 'overweight', citing the prospect of activist-driven restructuring and improved cost discipline as reasons for a more positive outlook.

• Shares in the specialty chemicals group have fallen about 70% since their 2021 peak, leaving the valuation at what Barclays described as “trough levels”; underperforming the FTSE 100’s 26% gain over the same period.

Get your resume ready because you know the current leadership will cut any and all of you to keep their jobs even though their bad business decisions put you here in the first place. If you didn’t believe the first post for this company, ‘Day of Reckoning is Upon Them’ you can’t say you weren’t warned.

It layoffs (100 plus) in outsourcing effort to TCS scheduled for announcement October 7th , 2025
No leadership roles will be affected.
Leadership roles actually created and filled from external.
Padded bonuses from Executive to senior leadership will be protected while Long term employees will be removed and/or reduced.

Occidental Petroleum in talks to sell OxyChem chemical unit for at least $10 billion

Occidental Petroleum has announced that it is in advanced talks to sell its chemical division, OxyChem, for at least $10 billion. The announcement sent Occidental's stock rising over 1% in premarket trading. The potential sale is expected to accelerate the company’s efforts to reduce debt and improve shareholder returns, according to Barclays. An announcement could come in the next few weeks, marking a strategic shift for Occidental as it focuses more on financial strengthening and streamlining operations.

OxyChem is a major global producer of chlor-alkali, PVC and caustic potash, with strong cash flow and links to Occidental’s Direct Air Capture initiatives. Despite its operational value—evident in Barclays’ projected EBITDA growth from $1.24 billion in 2025 to $1.46 billion in 2027—Occidental appears willing to divest the unit to boost balance sheet health. The $10 billion price tag reflects a roughly 7x EBITDA multiple for 2026–2027, higher than the company’s current valuation multiples. Even after taxes, the deal is expected to be slightly accretive, further reinforcing positive investor sentiment.

https://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2025/09/occidental-petroleum-in-talks-to-sell-oxychem-chemical-unit-for-at-least-10-billion/?oly_enc_id=7798E9325367A8R

Story by Fiona Craig

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) is reportedly weighing the sale of its chemical production facilities in the United Kingdom and Belgium, as the European chemical industry faces mounting challenges from U.S. trade tariffs and competitive pressures from China, according to the Financial Times on Thursday.

Sources familiar with the matter told the publication that the U.S. energy company has initiated early talks with advisers in recent weeks about potential divestments, which could be valued at around $1 billion.

The move comes as European chemical manufacturers navigate a difficult market environment, contending with both American trade measures and increased competition from Chinese producers.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/exxonmobil-considers-selling-european-chemical-plants-amid-sector-pressures

I’m hearing that CP Chem is really having problems right now.
I can’t help but think that Go Go was the CEO of that company only few years ago.
He even bragged about how great successful that BT was.
I hope epilogue is not prologue at P66.