Haseloff: Chemical Industry Needs 'Ground Under Its Feet' - Domo Chemicals halts German plants, leaving 500 jobs in limbo after insolvency
Belgian chemical company Domo Chemicals has stopped operations at its German plants in Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg after filing for insolvency. The shutdown affects three sites, leaving hundreds of jobs at risk and raising concerns about the wider impact on the region’s chemical industry. Local officials have warned of serious consequences if production cannot be secured quickly.
The insolvency affects three Domo subsidiaries: Domo Engineering Plastics GmbH in Premnitz, Brandenburg, Domo Chemicals GmbH, and Domo Caproleuna GmbH in Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt. The Premnitz plant employs around 70 workers, while the Leuna site supports roughly 480 jobs, with an additional 35 at the smaller subsidiary. Efforts are now underway to shift these facilities into emergency operation, though their long-term future remains unclear.
Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister-President Reiner Haseloff has stressed the importance of the chemical sector to the region. He warned that without intervention, the industry could face collapse, threatening both employment and the supply chain. The state government is collaborating with insolvency administrator Lucas Flöther, the Infra-Leuna chemical park company, and the state investment bank to stabilise production at the Leuna plant. However, no concrete measures have been announced yet. The potential closure of Domo’s plants could disrupt local suppliers, particularly those providing raw materials to the group. East Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industry employs about 63,000 people and generates over €30 billion in annual revenue, making it a critical part of the regional economy. Domo Chemicals, headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, operates as part of a larger corporate group, but its German subsidiaries now face an uncertain path forward.
The insolvency of Domo Chemicals’ German sites has put hundreds of jobs in jeopardy and raised concerns about the stability of the regional chemical sector. Authorities are working to maintain production, but the outcome will depend on negotiations with administrators and investors. The situation highlights the broader challenges facing the industry in eastern Germany.
