---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001262823-26-000067"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WLK"
cik: "0001262823"
company_name: "WESTLAKE CORP"
filed_at: "2026-09-29T10:06:28+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-10-12T13:40:46.939680+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.68
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.68
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Westlake to close Cologne PVC plant (165k t/yr); ~$205M pre-tax charges, Q3 2026 results below Q2

## Summary
- Plan approved Sept 24, 2026 to cease PVC production at Cologne, Germany site (~165,000 metric tons/year capacity); operations end Q1 2027, cutting ~120 employees.
- Total pre-tax charges ~$205M: $105M non-cash ($60M accelerated depreciation, $45M asset write-offs) plus $100M cash ($20M severance, $80M contract termination/decommissioning).
- ~$110M of charges expected in 2026, remainder in 2027; cash outflows spread over several years; consultations with local works councils began Sept 29, 2026.
- Customers to be served from remaining lower-cost German PVC sites, including recently acquired Wilhelmshaven; CEO Jean-Marc Gilson cited weak demand, high energy costs and Asian import pressure.
- Q3 2026 PVC and polyethylene North American prices fell vs Q2; Housing & Infrastructure hit by higher diesel-driven freight costs and lower volumes; Q3 results seen sequentially below Q2.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001262823-26-000067
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WLK
- cik: 0001262823
- company_name: WESTLAKE CORP
- filed_at: 2026-09-29T10:06:28+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.68
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.68
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.05, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1262823/000126282326000067/0001262823-26-000067-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1262823/000126282326000067/wlk-20260924.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001262823-26-000067
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001262823-26-000067.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001262823-26-000067.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.