60 jobs to go at Ineos Acetyls in Hull
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is blaming high energy costs
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos is to cut a fifth of jobs at a plant in Hull, blaming high energy costs and "dirt-cheap" imports from China.
It said it will cut 60 jobs at the Ineos Acetyls site, which makes petrochemical products such as acetic acid, and said more roles across the industry will be at risk without Government intervention.
Bosses said "carbon-heavy" imports from China are "flooding the market" after they were blocked from entering the US due to recent tariffs and called on the UK Government and European Commission to launch their own tariffs.
Chief executive of Ineos Acetyls, David Brooks, said: "This is a very difficult time for everyone at the Hull facility.
"We have a leading-edge, efficient and well-invested site and the team here is highly-skilled, professional and dedicated.
"Making the decision to cut 60 roles was not taken lightly.
"We have explored every possible alternative but in the face of sustained pressure from energy costs, combined with unfairly low-cost imports into the UK and Europe, we've been left with no other choice."