ExxonMobil Chemical in late December confirmed plans to close its standard butyl rubber plant at Notre Dame de Gravenchon, France.

At press time, the closure was being discussed with the site's works council. Current plans call for the shutdown to take place in the third quarter of 2015, with workers to be offered jobs at other company sites.

The petrochemicals subsidiary of the US oil group said it would continue to produce standard butyl rubber at other facilities. It added that the shutdown in France had "no impact" on its halobutyl operations.

ExxonMobil claims to have the world's largest installed capacity for halobutyl rubber, which it produces in the US and UK as well as in a Japanese joint venture.