Strategic restart to support European customers aligned with market dynamics and trade developments
Syensqo announces the reopening of its synthetic vanillin production unit in Saint-Fons, France, which had been mothballed since May 2024. The unit is scheduled to resume operations by the end of 2025, responding to changing market conditions and strengthening its support for European customers in the food, flavor and fragrance sectors.
The decision to mothball the unit was made in a challenging context of inflation, declining demand, and intensified competition—especially from Asian markets. Recent developments, including the imposition of 131% anti-dumping duties by the European Commission, supported by the French government and minimum 232% additional duties in the United States should significantly reshape the competitive landscape, supporting regional producers. In this new context, reopening the Saint-Fons unit provides an opportunity to reinforce Syensqo’s regional production capabilities and production volumes to better serve European customers and assure supply chain resilience.
The Saint-Fons site, which continues to produce natural vanillin and hydroquinone, will now also resume synthetic vanillin production. With complementary production in Baton Rouge (USA) and in Zhenjiang, China, Syensqo will have localized manufacturing in each of its major regions, thereby offering greater supply reliability and responsiveness to its global customer base.
The reopening is expected to create around 25 new positions.
Our priority is to remain a reliable and valued partner to our customers. Reopening the Saint-Fons synthetic vanillin unit allows us to strengthen our regional presence in Europe and respond effectively to market changes and global trade developments.
This decision does not impact Syensqo’s announced strategic intent to divest the Aroma Performance business.
Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates in 30 countries.
Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and healthcare applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.
Learn more at www.syensqo.com.