JACKSONVILLE, FL - Arizona Chemical will permanently close its Port St. Joe, FL, chemical plant in July 2009. The company intends to transfer its Port St. Joe production to its refineries in Panama City, FL, and Savannah, GA. The announcement will affect all of the approximately 77 employees at the Port St. Joe plant.

 

The company has tried to manage the reduction in customer orders in a number of ways, including scheduling downtime at most of its manufacturing plants to reduce its overall cost burden. “Unfortunately, given the current economic outlook, the decision has been made that closing the Port St. Joe plant and moving its orders to the company’s other refineries makes the best economic sense for the overall health of the business,” said Kees Verhaar, Arizona Chemical’s President and CEO. The company intends to invest in several of its other U.S. facilities to accommodate the Port St. Joe business.

 

The Port St. Joe plant was built in 1957 and acquired by Arizona Chemical in 1986. The plant produces rosins, rosin esters and fatty acids for the adhesives, oleochemicals and inks industries.