"We have temporarily shut down production at the plant in Port Arthur due to decreased demand for chemicals and the softening economy," Stavinoha said. "We will resume operations when the market outlook improves. This (action) does not prompt immediate layoffs. We will reopen the plant once the market improves."
The plant on Savannah Avenue employs 185 workers. The company said it would shut down its Odessa plant permanently after the first half of 2009. Otherwise, Stavinoha said the chemical company's plants at other locations are financially solvent.
In a prior News article, Flint Hills Resources completed its largest acquisition to date when the company purchased Port Arthur's Huntsman Corp. along with associated area pipelines and a product storage area for a total purchase price of $770 million.
"Our company has long wanted to add an olefins cracker to our manufacturing capability. We are very excited to be a part of the Port Arthur community and in this new production area," Kevin Radke, plant manager for Flint Hills said at the time.
Flint Hills Resources chemical plants -- with locations in Illinois, Michigan and Texas plants in Longview, Corpus Christi and Odessa -- have the capability to produce 10 billion pound of petrochemicals annually.
The local pipeline system is operated by Koch Pipeline Co., L.P., and affiliate of Flint Hills.
To see more of The Port Arthur News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.panews.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, The Port Arthur News, Texas Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index