# Argentina synthetic rubber plant closure > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/argentina-synthetic-rubber-plant-closure > Updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:05.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. In late July 2026, Pampa Energía announced the definitive shutdown of its only synthetic rubber plant in Puerto General San Martín, Santa Fe. The closure was attributed to a sharp collapse in domestic demand, especially from tire maker FATE, and left about 130 workers directly affected while threatening over 150 additional jobs. Union representatives from SOEPU staged protests in Rosario, accusing the company of using “voluntary retirement” offers as a cover for dismissals and calling on the government to intervene. By early August, the union warned that the shutdown could eliminate more than 200 positions, emphasizing the plant’s strategic role in Argentina’s petrochemical value chain. SOEPU pledged to pursue all institutional avenues to protect national production and thanked politician Jorge Sola for backing the labor action, highlighting growing political support for the effort to preserve jobs and the broader industry. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: Pampa Energía synthetic rubber plant closure threatens 200 jobs, SOEPU union protests SOEPU protests the closure of Pampa Energía's synthetic rubber plant, citing loss of 200+ jobs and broader impact on Argentina's petrochemical sector. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pampa-energa-synthetic-rubber-plant-closure-threatens-200-jobs-soepu-union-protests ### 2026-07-22: Pampa Energía shuts Argentina’s sole synthetic rubber plant, 130 jobs lost Pampa Energía will close Argentina’s only synthetic rubber plant in Puerto San Martín, cutting about 130 jobs and triggering union protests over alleged disguised dismissals and a shift to imports. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pampa-energa-shuts-down-argentinas-only-synthetic-rubber-plant-in-puerto-san-martn --- Cite as: Argentina synthetic rubber plant closure. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/argentina-synthetic-rubber-plant-closure