Lanxess Strike Threatens Industry, Belgian Grouping Says

The ongoing strike at the Lanxess 150,000 t/y butyl rubber plant at Zwijndrecht, near Antwerp, will have a negative impact on the industry, the company's partners and clients if the six-week old strike is not ended soon, the Belgian chemical industry association Essenscia has warned.

The industrial action began in early March when workers rejected a new collective agreement on wages and working conditions.

Essenscia said it was concerned that the plant's 435 jobs could be lost if the strike continues and that the action could also jeopardize jobs at contractors and logistics companies.

In late March, Lanxess said the strike had already cost a single-digit million euro sum. Rubber market woes led to the German company to post a loss for 2013.

With the Belgian plant idled, Lanxess is supplying customers from its 100,000 t/y butyl plant in Singapore. The German company also operates a plant at Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, believed to have output capability of 135,000 t/y.