Cargill to close Ohio mill while expanding production in Europe

USA – Cargill plans to close its corn milling plant on Needmore Road in Dayton, Ohio, with operations set to continue until at least late 2027, the company confirmed.

A company spokesperson said the site will remain active for about 20 months as teams scale down production and adjust supply chains. The move will affect about 230 workers at the facility.

“We can confirm our intention to close the Dayton, Ohio, facility, but it is important to note it will remain operational for at least the next 20 months to allow time for production ramp-down and to enable supply chain adjustments,” said Hli Yang, a spokesperson for Cargill. 

“In the meantime, we remain fully committed to continuing to serve our customers in this market and to supporting our employees through the transition.”

Yang added that the company will keep its wider footprint in the state. 

“Cargill also remains committed to Ohio. We continue to operate 15 facilities across the state and employ nearly 1,000 people in the state.”

The planned closure comes years after Cargill invested in other sites in Ohio. 

In 2019, the company committed US$225 million to expand its soybean crush and refined oils facility in Sidney, adding 12 jobs to a workforce of 325 at the time.

The Dayton plant will continue running during the transition period, which may extend beyond 20 months depending on operational needs. 

The company has not shared details on severance or redeployment plans for affected workers.

Expansion in Europe

As it prepares to wind down operations in Dayton, Cargill is expanding its industrial footprint in Europe. 

The company recently opened a new production plant in Gouda, the Netherlands, to increase the supply of FR3 natural ester dielectric fluid.

Cargill said it invested about US$30 million in the new facility, which will triple its regional production capacity. 

The plant will serve sectors such as power grids, data centres, and clean energy projects, where demand for transformer fluids continues to rise.

“Establishing a state-of-the-art full-scale production facility for FR3 fluid in Europe allows us to serve regional customers better, reduce complexity in logistics, and respond faster to market needs,” said Colleen May, President of Cargill Bioindustrial. 

“This new facility reflects Cargill’s long-term confidence in FR3 fluid as a critical solution for the future of global energy systems.”

Cargill said the Gouda site will help improve supply stability and shorten delivery times across Europe. 

The company selected the location for its strong infrastructure, technical expertise, and transport links, as well as the presence of an existing ester production plant.

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