Lubrizol’s French business put the brakes on a plan that would have cut around 100 jobs at its facilities in Rouen and Le Havre, the company said last week. The halt was announced after workers took industrial action as well as pushback from local institutions.
The restructuring sparked tensions in northern France, where the company’s operations have a significant footprint.
The additive company notified its works council and staff that it was ending the consultation process tied to the planned reorganization. Lubrizol’s decision marks a pause rather than a cancellation, as economic pressures on the business remain.
Lubrizol said the plan was initially developed in response to a sharp decline in demand for fuel additives across Europe, which resulted in production volumes falling by more than 30%. The drop left the company with excess capacity, prompting a strategic reassessment to safeguard its competitiveness.
Lubrizol France CEO Nicolas Adam said that while the job cuts are off the table for now, the company still faces the challenge of overcapacity.
“Our priority is to ensure continued supply to our customers,” he said, adding that the group, which employs about 700 people in France, must still navigate ongoing structural difficulties.