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Mar 27, 2024
 
Cabot to close reinforcing CB unit at China facility
 

Cabot Corp. has posted restructuring charges of over $8 million for the planned closure of its reinforcing carbons unit in Tianjin, China. In a Feb. 8 SEC filing of first-quarter results, Cabot said the move was part of a wider restructuring activity initiated during the final three months of 2023, which covers both its Reinforcement Materials and Performance Chemicals segments.

Under the Reinforcement Materials plan, Cabot said it will close the Tianjin reinforcing carbons unit, acquired from Tokai Carbon in February 2022. With the move, the company expects to consolidate reinforcing carbons operations and reduce ongoing operational costs. During the three months ended Dec. 31, 2023, Cabot recorded charges of $2 million for severance-related costs and $6 million for "accelerated depreciation" as part of the restructuring plan.

Cabot said it expects to record additional restructuring charges of $1 million related to the measures during the remainder of its fiscal year, ending Sept. 30, 2024. On acquiring the Chinese facility from Tokai Carbon, Cabot announced plans to upgrade the operation to support its battery materials product line.

Located near Cabot's existing carbon black and specialty compounds facility in Tianjin, the site had the capacity to produce up to 50,000 metric tons per year of carbon black when acquired. In a statement about the unit closure, a Cabot spokeswoman said that since acquiring the Tianjin plant, "we have been upgrading the capabilities of the facility to support the growth of our battery materials product line".

Cabot, she added, will "ensure security-of-supply for our reinforcing carbons customers in China and elsewhere by leveraging … our other (facilities) in Tianjin, Shanghai and Xingtai, to name a few".

 
 
 
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