As part of a plan to improve the profitability of its fluorogas business, on September 9th Arkema presented to the Zaramillo plant's personnel representative bodies a project for the closure of fluorogas productions at its Spanish site. The European fluorogas industry has been severely impacted for several years by a competitiveness gap with China and the United States. Hence the Zaramillo site is faced with this European environment as well as structural problems, which have prompted this proposed closure of the fluorogas productions.

The Zaramillo site, which manufactures HFC R32 and R143a fluorogases and blends, has been faced with a highly competitive environment for a number of years. Furthermore, European regulations are requiring investments for additional compliance standards as of 2015 for a site that is undersized and loss-making. Given this context, the project entails the definitive shutdown of production by the end of 2014.

The project is subject to the legal information and consultation process involving the personnel representative bodies of Arkema in Spain, and would entail the loss of 59 jobs on the site.

Arkema is committed to taking every possible step to provide local support and assistance to all concerned by this proposed shutdown, by offering internal and external redeployment solutions.

A global chemical company and France's leading chemicals producer,Arkemais building the future of the chemical industry every day. Deploying a responsible, innovation-based approach, we produce state-of-the-art specialty chemicals that provide customers with practical solutions to such challenges as climate change, access to drinking water, the future of energy, fossil fuel preservation and the need for lighter materials. With operations in more than 40 countries, some 14,000 employees and 10 research centers, Arkema generates annual revenue of €6.1 billion, and holds leadership positions in all its markets with a portfolio of internationally recognized brands.

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