Evonik announces 3,200 global job cuts and site closures

German specialty chemicals company Evonik has announced a major restructuring plan involving the cutting of 3,200 jobs globally. This follows previous reductions of 2,800 positions scheduled through 2026. Approximately 2,150 of the new job cuts are expected to take place in Germany.

The restructuring, part of the ‘Evonik Tailor Made’ program, aims to optimize geostrategic balance by shifting investments toward Asia and the Americas. Interim CEO Klaus Rettig stated that the company is using the current structural and economic crisis in the chemical industry to eliminate outdated structures and increase efficiency.

As part of these changes, Evonik will close its sites in Hamburg and Bitterfeld by 2027. The Hamburg facility, which focuses on cosmetics and personal care, will consolidate its activities in Essen. The Bitterfeld site, producing high-purity silicon tetrachloride, will see its operations moved primarily to Rheinfelden due to increased competition from Asian suppliers and low capacity utilization.