Cornerstone Announces Deactivation of Acrylonitrile Unit

WAGGAMAN, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cornerstone Chemical Company (“Cornerstone” or “the Company”), operator of the Cornerstone Energy Park and a leading provider of Melamine, Acrylonitrile (“AN”) and Sulfuric Acid, announced the decision to mothball its AN operations effective June 30, 2025. After careful consideration of market conditions and ongoing strategic reviews, the company has determined that this course of action is necessary to ensure the long-term success of its world-class Energy Park, the viability of its remaining businesses and the well-being of its employees and stakeholders.

Cornerstone has operated in the AN market for several decades, during which time the Company has built a reputation for quality and manufacturing excellence. Despite significant efforts to adapt to an evolving marketplace, the AN Business’ financial challenges, exacerbated by oversupplied global markets for AN and increasing raw material costs, have led to the difficult but necessary decision to exit the business at this time.

“Making the decision to close our AN Business was incredibly difficult,” said Matthew Sokol, Cornerstone’s President and CEO. “We are immensely proud of our dedicated workforce and the strong relationships we’ve built with our customers, partners, and suppliers. Unfortunately, the changing dynamics in the industry have made it impossible to continue operations as we have in the past. As we assess opportunities at the Energy Park for 2025 and beyond, we will work diligently to reallocate and reassign our current workforce where possible.”

As part of the transition, Cornerstone will ensure that all legal and regulatory obligations are met, including the safe idling of its facilities, the protection of its employees, and the handling of customer and supplier relationships. The company will also work closely with its team to provide support and resources during this time.

About Cornerstone Chemical Company, LLC

Headquartered in Waggaman, Louisiana with approximately 400 employees, Cornerstone Chemical Company is an industry-leading manufacturer of high-quality intermediate chemicals, including acrylonitrile, melamine, sulfuric acid, urea, and other products used for a variety of end-market applications. For more information about Cornerstone, visit https://cornerstonechemco.com/ or read about Cornerstone’s involvement in the Greater New Orleans and Louisiana communities.