Córdoba would receive part of the plant that Atanor is closing in San Nicolás.

Atanor announced the closure of its chemical production plant in San Nicolás and would relocate part of its operations. The company is considering additional investments in Río Tercero as part of a national restructuring. In Córdoba, the group already operates a plant, and the announcement comes amid a crisis in the chemical sector.

The company, part of the multinational group Albaugh, released the news through an official statement. "Albaugh's efforts will focus on increasing productivity with investments in its Río Tercero facilities", it stated. The company also reported that a logistics center will be developed in San Nicolás and production will not resume.

The Buenos Aires plant suffered an explosion in March 2024 that halted its activity. Since then, it hasn't resumed operations and has faced scrutiny over possible environmental impacts. "It has ceased to be strategic," the company stated in the text released on July 11.

The exit from San Nicolás revives expectations in Río Tercero

The closure in Buenos Aires is part of a "relocation process" due to market changes. The company seeks to "optimize competitiveness and efficiency", according to its statement. Río Tercero is one of two locations that would receive part of the transferred production.

Atanor already has an active plant in the city of Córdoba, within the local chemical hub. That hub is experiencing a delicate situation due to labor disputes and job losses. The arrival of new investments could at least partially offset the recent industrial decline.

Sources close to the company clarified that the atrazine plant will not be relocated. That substance, used in crops, was produced only in Mercosur by Atanor. After the explosion, production ceased and it will not be manufactured again at any national site.

The Córdoba chemical hub faces ongoing crises and adjustments

Petroquímica Río Tercero closed its TDI plant in October and laid off 125 workers. In 2025, this was followed by a complete halt of its activities and rumors of a sale. The company attributed its decline to competition from imported supplies from China.

Atanor had also reported competitiveness problems in recent months. In its case, it moved forward with cost cuts and changes in production strategy. The Pilar plant, in Buenos Aires, was also mentioned as a recipient of investments.

The closure of Petroquímica also affected the Military Factory, located in the same city. That state-owned company lost 90% of the demand for nitric acid it sold. Among the three chemical plants, they still employ about 900 people in Río Tercero.