Chemicals producer Vynova Belgium filed for bankruptcy on 10 November 2026, ending almost a year of court-supervised restructuring and putting around 600 jobs at risk at its Tessenderlo-Ham plant.

The company said it had held intensive talks with several parties about a possible recapitalisation or takeover, but no agreement could be reached. Talks with chemicals group Nobian about a takeover had fallen through, according to Belga, and management said it saw no other option than to file for bankruptcy.

Debts of 275 million euros

Vynova Belgium has been in judicial reorganisation proceedings since December 2025, with debts of 275 million euros. The company blamed an extremely uncertain economic climate, characterised by high and volatile energy prices, persistently weak demand and growing imports from regions with lower production costs.

Production at the Tessenderlo-Ham site, which makes caustic soda, potassium hydroxide and vinyl chloride monomer, began winding down in late October to preserve cash.

Fallout spreads across Europe

The collapse has immediate consequences beyond Belgium. LVM Netherlands BV, which operates Vynova's site in Beek in the Netherlands, is applying for a suspension of payments, while the company is assessing the position of Vynova Mazingarbe in France under French law.

Vynova's German subsidiary in Wilhelmshaven entered insolvency proceedings in December 2025 and was acquired by Westlake in June 2026. The bankruptcy is the latest setback for Europe's PVC and chlor-alkali industry, which has been squeezed by energy costs and competition from lower-cost imports.

Sources: ChemOrbis and Belga.