2026 - 2027 Exhibitions
Plant closure: Radici to shutdown adipic acid plant in Italy
Due to competition from Asia, Italy’s RadiciGroup is restructuring its plant in Novara, northern Italy, which has 75,000 tonnes/year nameplate capacity for adipic acid. Operated by Radici Chimica the site is dedicated to the vertically integrated production of PA66..
The plan calls for the shutdown of the plants producing adipic acid, one of the two monomers used to manufacture PA66. Radici will supply adipic acid from its other plants to support continued PA66 output at Novara.
The closure could affect 140 jobs of a total workforce of almost 300.
The company presented its assessment to trade union representatives recently. It said it was evaluating measures to limit the employment and economic consequences including redeployment, professional retraining and social safety-net provisions.
The company said the Novara facility has posted significant losses for three consecutive years and is facing strong competition from Asia. It is also contending with high energy and raw material costs, alongside prolonged, structural weakness in demand from the automotive, textile and construction sectors.
Adipic acid is one of the principal raw materials used to manufacture PA66 that is widely used in automotive components, textiles, industrial products and construction applications.
European adipic acid producers had already sought trade protection against low-priced Chinese imports.
Following an investigation, the European Commission imposed definitive anti-dumping duties of between 29.1% and 42.3% on adipic acid imported from China on 5 May 2026. The Commission found that the products were entering the European Union at dumped prices and causing harm to an EU industry employing more than 1,100 people.
The EU estimates that imports of adipic acid from outside the bloc are worth approximately EUR160 million, with about EUR130 million originating in China.
RadiciGroup's basic chemicals and engineering plastics operations were acquired this year by investment firm Lone Star Funds, together with the Domo Engineered Materials division of Belgium's Domo Group.
Subscribe to Get the Latest Updates from IMA Please click here
©2026 Injection Moulding Asia. All rights reserved.