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ExxonMobil to Shut Fife Ethylene Plant in February 2026, Putting About 450 Jobs at Risk

The oil major cites high costs, market pressures plus a UK policy environment it says leaves the site uncompetitive after failing to find a buyer.

Overview

  • Closure is subject to employee consultation, with 179–200 direct roles and roughly 250 contractor positions affected, and about 50 staff offered relocation to Fawley in Hampshire.
  • ExxonMobil says it tested the market for a buyer and explored options to continue production but concluded the site lacks a competitive future.
  • The company pledges support for staff and continued safe operations through the end of production as consultations proceed.
  • The Scottish Government is establishing a taskforce while the UK Government says it explored every reasonable avenue and will deploy DWP rapid response and PACE support.
  • Unions and local politicians demand a planned, worker‑led transition as the closure is linked to wider industrial retrenchment, including the recent Grangemouth shutdown and Exxon's global restructuring.