Core Viewpoint - The company, Solvay Group, will indefinitely suspend production at its methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant in Rho, Italy, starting September 29 due to ongoing low profitability [1] Group 1: Production Suspension - The MMA plant has an annual capacity of 100,000 tons and will cease operations due to persistent low profitability [1] - High energy and raw material costs are significant challenges faced by European producers, with methanol contract prices remaining high in the first two quarters of this year [1] - Acetone contract prices are approximately €200 per ton higher than spot market prices [1] Group 2: Future Production Plans - The company hopes to resume production in the future but requires clearer outlook assessments [1] - The Rho plant will continue to produce PMMA, a major derivative of MMA, using existing MMA inventory as raw material, though the duration of this inventory's availability is uncertain [1] Group 3: Recycling Initiatives - In June 2024, the company launched an advanced PMMA recycling pilot facility at the Rho plant based on depolymerization technology [1] - This recycling project was initially announced in December 2023 and focuses on extracting high-purity MMA monomer from pre-consumer and post-consumer PMMA waste through a continuous process [1]