Hydro to close extrusion plant in the UK

Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA will be closing its Birtley, England, extrusions plant at the end of this month.

The company, whose Hydro Extrusions plants around the world typically produce recycled-content products, says the decision followed a consultation process with employees and their representatives. Extrusion purchasing customers and production activity are being transferred to the firm’s extrusion plants in Tibshelf and Cheltenham, U.K.

About 100 people will lose their positions in Birtley, with Hydro saying efforts have been made to offer them employment opportunities at the other Hydro Extrusions sites in the U.K., and that it will be “supporting the people leaving Hydro.”

The firm cites challenging market conditions for its closure of the Birtley plant, which houses a two-press operation with an annual capacity of approximately 12,000 metric tons.

In its first quarter 2025 earnings report, Hydro referred to market conditions in its global recycling and recycled-content extrusions operations as having been more challenging early this year.

The company says ongoing weak market activity continued to tighten aluminum scrap supplies, pressuring recycling margins and reducing remelt production in its Hydro Extrusions and Aluminum Metal Recycling business units.

“In a more unpredictable world, our integrated business model and strong cost position make Hydro more resilient and better positioned to deliver long-term value,” Hydro President and CEO Eivind Kallevik says.