The American chemical company Westlake is closing all its factories in Pernis near Rotterdam. As a result, approximately 230 jobs will be lost, the company reports. Westlake’s departure from the region is not an isolated incident.
In Pernis, Westlake manufactures various basic chemicals used in other substances and materials. Last year, the company already stopped the production of two of those chemicals, which resulted in approximately thirty people losing their jobs. Now, Westlake is leaving the location near Rotterdam completely.
The company cites a “continued deterioration of business in Europe” as the reason. There have been long-standing concerns from the industry around the Rotterdam port area about companies leaving due to the relatively high costs in the Netherlands for things like energy.
Companies in the Netherlands pay an average of 95 euros for a megawatt-hour of electricity. That is tens of euros more than in surrounding countries.
Westlake expects to lose 190 million euros due to the closure in Pernis. Of that, approximately 30 million euros will go to severance payments.