INEOS to cut 20 per cent of staff in the Hull area

THE COMPANY BLAMES ROCKETING ENERGY COSTS AND CHINA IMPORTS

- By COREENA FORD

Saltend Chemicals plant, home to INEOS' acetyls facility

PETROCHEMICALS giant INEOS has announced it is set to cut 20 per cent of its workforce in the Hull area, blaming rocketing energy costs and imports from China on the devastating decision.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's chemicals empire says it is losing 60 skilled jobs at its Acetyls plant near Hull, having explored "every possible alternative".

And the firm is calling on the UK Government and European Commission to take action, citing "anti-competitive trade practices" with importers "dumping" product into the UK and European markets. Bosses claim cheap carbon-heavy imports from China, produced using coal and emitting up to eight times more carbon dioxide than INEOS's UK operations, are now flooding the market.