Goodyear to Close Niagara Falls Chemical Plant, Setting Up Decommissioning Work

Goodyear will close its chemical plant at 56th Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls at the end of October 2026, ending about 80 years of production and setting up a decommissioning project at one of the city's long-running industrial sites. The Buffalo News reported the plant has operated for 80 years Buffalo News. The company's closure plan, approved September 29, also closes a chemical plant in Bayport, Texas Goodyear SEC filing CNHI.

What happened

In a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Goodyear said that on September 29, 2026 it approved a plan to close its chemical manufacturing facilities in Niagara Falls and Bayport Goodyear SEC filing. The company expects about 85 job reductions across both plants and expects the plan to be substantially complete by the end of 2027 Goodyear SEC filing.

"Following the sale of the majority of its chemical business in 2025, the company has made the decision to fully exit this business to focus on its core products and services," a Goodyear spokesperson said WAMC. Goodyear completed the sale of its Houston and Beaumont chemical facilities and an Akron research office to an affiliate of Gemspring Capital Management on October 31, 2025, for $650 million, subject to adjustments. It kept the Niagara Falls and Bayport plants Goodyear press release via SEC.

The Niagara Falls plant is expected to operate through October 31, with decommissioning to follow CNHI. Employees learned of the plan when they arrived for work on October 1 Niagara Gazette.

Key numbers

• Total charges: $55 million to $75 million pre-tax for both plants Goodyear SEC filing.
• Cash costs: About $30 million, mainly for plant decommissioning, associate-related costs and other exit costs Goodyear SEC filing.
• Timing: About $35 million in charges in the third quarter of 2026 and about $15 million in the rest of 2026 Goodyear SEC filing.
• Savings: Goodyear expects Americas segment operating income to improve by $15 million to $20 million a year starting in 2027 Goodyear SEC filing.

The local job count is not yet settled. CNHI reported that Goodyear confirmed 60 employees would lose their jobs, the Niagara Gazette reported the plant employed 80 people, including United Steelworkers members, and the Buffalo News reported about 70 workers CNHI Niagara Gazette Buffalo News. As of October 2, Goodyear had not filed a state WARN notice, which would confirm the number WBEN. The 85-job total in the SEC filing covers both plants Goodyear SEC filing.

Sources also name the Texas plant differently. The SEC filing and Bloomberg Law refer to Bayport, while Goodyear's statement to WAMC named Pasadena, Texas Bloomberg Law WAMC. Bayport's industrial district is in the Pasadena area, so both names appear to describe the same plant.

Environmental context

The plant has faced years of scrutiny. WAMC reported that it emitted a known bladder carcinogen for at least 15 years because of faulty pollution controls, and that reporting led the Department of Environmental Conservation to issue a penalty and require permanent pollution controls by October 31, 2026 WAMC. Community groups also asked the EPA to act in 2024 Niagara Gazette. The closure date matches the DEC deadline, but Goodyear has not linked the two.

Why it matters

Plant closures create construction work long after production stops. Decommissioning a chemical plant typically involves cleaning and removing process equipment, managing residual chemicals, abatement and possible demolition, followed by environmental investigation before reuse. Goodyear's filing sets aside cash for decommissioning, but no demolition or reuse plan has been announced Goodyear SEC filing.

Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said the jobs would be hard to replace. He said the city wants to attract light manufacturing to land it owns north of Porter Road and to expand building trades training CNHI. Those plans do not involve the Goodyear site itself.

Implications for owners, developers, contractors and subs

• Environmental and demolition contractors: Decommissioning, abatement, equipment removal and possible demolition could create bid opportunities through 2027.
• Industrial developers: A large former chemical site on a major corridor could eventually be redeveloped, depending on cleanup requirements.
• Local trades: The loss of about 60 to 80 union manufacturing jobs adds to the case for the city's trades training push.
• Owners and lenders: Environmental due diligence will shape any future sale or reuse of the property.

What to watch next

Watch for a WARN notice confirming local job losses, DEC oversight of shutdown and decommissioning, any EPA involvement, and Goodyear's plans to sell, clean up or demolish the property. This is a developing story.

Bottom line

Goodyear's exit from chemicals will close a Niagara Falls plant that has operated for about 80 years. Production ends this month, but decommissioning and any redevelopment of the site could keep it active for environmental and demolition contractors for some time.

Image credit: WKBW Channel 7 via WBEN. Image from the source article.

Sources

• Goodyear Form 8-K, SEC: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42582/000162828026064270/gt-20260929.htm
• Goodyear press release, SEC: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42582/000162828025048294/goodyearpressrelease-trans.htm
• WAMC: https://www.wamc.org/2026-10-02/goodyears-niagara-falls-chemical-plant-to-close
• WBEN: https://www.audacy.com/wben/news/business/goodyear-closing-niagara-falls-plant-at-end-of-october
• Niagara Gazette: https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/goodyear-closing-its-niagara-falls-plant/article_35c44a66-5663-4d94-b0cb-8ec720501ebe.html
• CNHI: https://www.cnhi.com/rss_feed/goodyear-will-exit-chemical-business-in-the-falls/
• Bloomberg Law: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/goodyear-to-close-two-chemical-plants-cut-85-jobs
• Buffalo News: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/article_5da12c2f-5fa9-4f19-9c06-3ad488df7739.html