Hundreds of jobs under threat at Grangemouth chemical plant
Syngenta has announced plans to cease operations at its Grangemouth chemical plant, putting 377 jobs at risk. The company cited a lack of competitiveness against international rivals as the primary reason for the potential closure.
Why it matters
The potential closure highlights ongoing challenges in the UK manufacturing sector regarding global competitiveness and industrial job security.
Image caption, Syngenta said its Grangemouth facility was "no longer competitive"
Hundreds of jobs are under threat in Grangemouth after an agricultural chemical firm announced plans to cease operations at the site.
Syngenta said it had been unable to make its business at the plant "competitive" in the face of "increasing international competition".
A spokesperson for the company - which manufactures chemicals used for the protection of crops - said it would enter a consultation period over the move, but added a final decision has yet to be taken.
The Economy Secretary, Stephen Flynn, described the plans as "extremely disappointing".
The UK government's Reindustrialisation Minister, Blair McDougall, said they had worked with Scottish counterparts to "explore every possible avenue" for support, but Syngenta had taken the decision on a commercial basis.
A total of 377 workers are set to be affected by the move.
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