Evonik Closes Sites in Hamburg and Bitterfeld
Evonik plans to close two smaller sites in its German production and technology network next year.
At the Hamburg site, approximately 50 employees currently work in the cosmetics and personal care products division. In Bitterfeld, approximately 40 employees are engaged in the production of chlorosilanes. The businesses operated at these sites will continue and will be concentrated primarily at larger sites in Germany. In the coming months, solutions that are as socially responsible as possible will be developed for the employees in close consultation with employee representatives.
“We have strong businesses that successfully meet our customers’ needs for high-quality products,” says Claus Rettig, interim CEO of Evonik. “At the same time, our production, administrative, and laboratory structures are too fragmented in some areas. This leads to unnecessarily high costs and weakens our competitiveness. That is why we must also consolidate Evonik’s physical presence more effectively and strategically concentrate our structures in order to work more efficiently, drive innovation faster, and thereby strengthen our competitiveness.”
The Hamburg site is scheduled to close in the middle of next year. Activities related to cosmetics and personal care products will be consolidated—along with the technological expertise—at the much larger Essen Goldschmidtstraße site, where the business will continue to operate. The Essen site is already a key hub for the Care Solutions business line, to which the Hamburg site belongs. Like the chemical industry as a whole, this segment is suffering from weak global economic conditions and persistent margin pressure from international competition.
“We are aware that this decision represents a profound change for the employees at the Hamburg site,” says Maximilian Morin, head of the Care Solutions business line. “The decision was made after an intensive review of various options and is the best solution for the successful future development of the business.”
The Bitterfeld site is scheduled to close at the end of April 2027. This decision is driven by the persistently challenging market conditions for high-purity silicon tetrachloride, including rising supply from Asia and increasing competitive pressure. At the same time, plant capacity utilization has long been insufficient to ensure economically viable operations. Various future options—such as alternative operating concepts, a reduction in capacity, a temporary shutdown, and sale scenarios—were examined. None of them offered a viable long-term economic outlook.
“This decision was not an easy one for us. We recognize the importance of the site for our employees and the region. At the same time, we are committed to ensuring the long-term competitiveness of our business,” says Emmanuel Auer, Head of the Smart Effects Business Line, which includes the chlorosilane business. Supply to customers remains assured. Evonik will guarantee deliveries primarily through its Rheinfelden site in southern Germany.
The next steps will be discussed together with employee representatives in Hamburg and Bitterfeld. “For us, treating our colleagues at Evonik responsibly is our top priority, even when difficult decisions must be made,” says Hussin EL Moussaoui, Chairman of the General Works Council. “That is why it is important to us to communicate the necessary changes early and transparently. This creates clarity and gives us the time we need to work together to develop viable and socially responsible solutions for everyone affected.”
