**Nearly 300 Jobs at Risk as Dow Announces Closure of Major Section at Barry Plant**
A significant round of redundancies is looming for the Vale of Glamorgan, as global chemicals manufacturer Dow has confirmed it will close a substantial part of its facility in Barry. This decision puts close to 291 roles in jeopardy, a move that forms part of a wider cost-saving initiative set to affect roughly 800 jobs across three European sites. Alongside Barry, two facilities in Germany are also earmarked for shutdown, highlighting the sweeping impact of Dow’s restructuring.
The company, headquartered in the United States, made the announcement as part of broader plans first revealed in January to streamline operations and achieve an estimated $1 billion in savings. This global cost-cutting venture has seen Dow target a reduction of some 1,500 jobs worldwide, reflecting the considerable challenges currently faced by the chemical sector.
Dow’s presence in Barry stretches back more than half a century, having acquired the 160-acre site in 1971 from Midland Silicones. Today, the Barry facility employs approximately 850 people, making it a cornerstone of the local economy. The closure of the “basic siloxanes” operations will have a dramatic effect, potentially impacting around a third of the workforce.
Internationally, Dow’s reach is immense, with more than 200 operating sites in 30 countries and a total workforce of about 36,000. The company, once the world’s largest chemical producer, remains a substantial employer in Wales, with its Barry plant contributing significantly to both the local community and the wider UK industrial landscape.
The chemicals produced at the Barry site are used internally by Dow as raw ingredients and are also sold globally for diverse uses ranging from food processing to paint formulation and dry cleaning products. However, persistent pressures from lower-cost overseas competition—particularly from China—have made certain basic product lines unviable in the open market, which has directly contributed to the company’s decision to scale back operations.
According to Dow, the closures are aimed at “right-sizing regional capacity, reducing merchant sale exposure, and removing higher-cost, energy-intensive portions” of its business portfolio. The tightly phased shutdown will commence in mid-2026, continuing until the end of 2027, with demolition and site clearance anticipated to stretch into 2029.
Jim Fitterling, the firm’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer, acknowledged the headwinds facing the industry. “Our sector in Europe continues to grapple with difficult market conditions and a challenging backdrop for costs and demand,” he commented. Fitterling added that the company is resolute in its efforts to maximise value from recent investments and safeguard long-term profitability, even as difficult decisions are being made in the short term.
The economic consequences for the wider Barry area are poised to be severe. Unions, including Unite, have already condemned the anticipated losses, describing them as “devastating” not only for those directly employed but also for the broader local economy and supply chains. When talk of the closures first emerged, Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, called the proposals “outrageous,” warning of the deep and lasting impact on workers and their families.
As Dow prepares to wind down affected operations, the company has estimated associated costs—including asset disposals, severance packages, and related benefits—will fall between $630 million and $790 million. This substantial sum underlines the scale of the restructuring and the gravity of its impact.
With demolition scheduled to continue into the end of the decade, the lasting effects on employment, local industry, and community identity in Barry are still being assessed. For workers and families facing redundancy, questions about support, retraining, and future prospects remain pressing. As the story develops, local leaders and industry observers will no doubt monitor how this major transition unfolds, both within Wales and across the broader European chemicals landscape.