Day: September 18, 2025

ExxonMobil Halts Investment in European Chemical Recycling Projects

ExxonMobil has suspended planned investments in chemical recycling projects at the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, citing Europe’s lack of competitiveness for major industrial projects, reports 24brussels.

The two initiatives, valued at approximately 100 million euros, aimed to convert plastic waste into recycled products. In Antwerp, the necessary approval to process 40,000 tonnes of plastic was granted only this summer; however, the company never finalized its investment decision.

Jack Williams, ExxonMobil’s senior vice-president, stated that stricter regulations on plastics within the European Union rendered the projects “economically unviable.” In an interview with De Tijd, he criticized the EU’s regulatory approach, which he argued prioritizes traditional mechanical recycling over chemical methods capable of managing more complex waste streams.

Williams also raised concerns regarding other EU regulations, notably the new corporate due diligence law, which he deemed excessively intricate and burdensome.

This decision comes amid increasing speculation about the future of ExxonMobil’s broader European operations. Earlier this month, the Financial Times reported that some of the company’s Belgian sites, employing around 2,000 workers, may be subject to closure or sale.