June 6, 2025 – Global petrochemical giant Alpek has announced a major operational restructuring, planning to permanently shut down its PET resin production facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina, by the end of July. This strategic decision marks a new phase in the company’s global capacity optimization drive.
Acquired by Alpek in 2001, the plant has been operating with an annual capacity of 170,000 tons of PET resin and 35,000 tons of rPET bottle flakes. Insights from the Color Masterbatch Industry Network indicate that the closure is a pivotal step in Alpek’s global business realignment, expected to save the company $20 million in annual operational costs starting in 2026. The company stated it will reallocate production resources to ensure uninterrupted customer supply chains.
This represents the second U.S. plant closure plan implemented by Alpek recently. In November last year, its EPS facility in Pennsylvania was previously shut down. As a multinational chemical conglomerate operating in nine countries, Alpek currently manages 34 production sites worldwide, with eight still operational in the U.S.—including five facilities focused on recycled resin production.
Industry analysts note that Alpek’s capacity adjustment reflects emerging challenges in the global petrochemical industry. By phasing out relatively inefficient older capacities and concentrating resources on more competitive core businesses, the company is actively adapting to market changes and strengthening its global competitiveness in key product areas like PET. This strategic transformation may prompt follow-up adjustments among peer enterprises.