After nearly 70 years of turning out industrial powders along the Havre de Grace waterfront, Evonik is preparing to shut down silica manufacturing at its long-running plant, with production set to wind down around mid-2026. The move will halt local production of precipitated silica and calcium silicate used in everything from toothpaste to animal feed, cutting dozens of jobs even as the company keeps laboratories and other research and support work in town and shifts manufacturing to larger North American hubs.
Company Announcement and Timeline
The pending closure was first laid out in a January 2025 announcement, where Evonik said the Havre de Grace site would continue operating into mid-2026 while production is transferred to other "silica hubs" and that affected employees would be offered transfer options and help with job searches, according to Evonik. The company noted the plant’s focus on precipitated silica and calcium silicate and said some R&D, laboratory, and support positions are expected to remain after manufacturing shuts down.
Local Reporting and Job Impact
The closure will mean 34 layoffs at the site, trimming a workplace that has been a fixture of Havre de Grace’s industrial landscape for decades, as reported by the Baltimore Business Journal. That layoff figure differs from an earlier company reference that put the plant’s production workforce at about 42 employees, underscoring how the final impact is still being sorted out.
City Officials and the Site's Future
City records show local officials were quietly brought into the loop as Evonik weighed its next steps. Economic development staff in Havre de Grace were told to expect a downsizing in June 2026 and were informed the company is exploring potential buyers for the property, according to City of Havre de Grace meeting minutes. The notes also indicate that city staff were asked to keep details confidential until employees and customers could be notified directly.
What Comes Next for Workers and the Waterfront
As production phases out, Evonik has said it will coordinate what it describes as a seamless transfer of products to other facilities and will support employees through transfers or job-hunting assistance, according to Evonik. Separately, state filings show the Havre de Grace site participates in environmental-management programs and holds ISO certifications, conditions that state planners say will factor into any eventual sale, cleanup, or redevelopment of the waterfront property, per the Maryland Department of the Environment.
Industry Context
The shutdown is not happening in a vacuum. Trade coverage and analysts say consolidating lower-margin silica production into fewer, higher-capacity hubs has become a common play to boost efficiency and trim complexity across the industry. Chemical Processing reviewed Evonik’s explanation and noted that while mid-2026 is the target, the exact shutdown timing still depends on final planning and local consultations.
