Evonik to close Bitterfeld production site by 2027

Chemical company Evonik has announced it will close its production site in Bitterfeld by the end of April 2027. The decision is driven by challenging market conditions and insufficient capacity utilization to ensure economic operations. The Bitterfeld facility produces chlorosilanes, which serve as raw materials for microchips and fiber optic cables.

In addition to the Bitterfeld closure, Evonik plans to shut down a smaller site in Hamburg involving 50 employees. While these specific locations are closing, the company stated that the business operations will continue and will be concentrated at larger sites within Germany.

Industry associations have expressed concern regarding a potential domino effect in the Central German chemical triangle. This region is home to approximately 100 companies and 10,000 employees. Recent setbacks in the area include insolvency filings by Domo Chemicals subsidiaries and announced plant closures by Dow.