June 6, 2025 11:55

Two announcements from across the world signal the shutdown of polyester resin facilities, specifically those producing PET, the most widely used polyester.

In the United States, Mexican chemical group Alpek will permanently shut down operations at its Cedar Creek facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina, by July 31, 2025.
This site, acquired by Alpek in 2001, has an installed capacity of 170,000 tons of PET resin and approximately 35,000 tons of rPET flake production.

The decision aligns with Alpek’s long-term strategy to optimize its global footprint and focus on the most competitive and scalable assets, with the goal of achieving approximately $20 million in annualized savings on a run-rate basis, effective by 2026. The company will reorganize production to continue serving the U.S. market through its regional and global network.

Meanwhile, in Japan, Kuraray has announced that it will phase out polyester resin and filament production at its subsidiary Kuraray Saijo, located in Ehime Prefecture, as part of its midterm plan “Passion 2026.”
Production of polyester resins for filaments will stop as of Dec. 31, 2025. PET injection molding resins sold under the Kurapet brand will be discontinued by Dec. 31, 2026, along with Clavella-branded polyester filaments.

In recent years, Kuraray stated, its polyester operations have faced increasing challenges due to rising maintenance and upgrade costs linked to aging equipment and shifts in market demand. Despite evaluating the continuation of these activities, the company concluded that long-term operational stability and profitability could no longer be ensured.

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