Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s firm Ineos halts production at three UK plants

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's chemical company, Ineos, is mothballing three manufacturing plants located on Humberside. Ratcliffe blamed high UK gas prices for making the plants uncompetitive against rivals in the United States and China. Two facilities have already ceased operations, with a third scheduled to halt production within days.

Around 1,000 workers at the Saltend Chemicals Park are affected by the shutdown, including roughly 240 direct Ineos staff, though no redundancies are currently planned. The plants manufacture essential chemicals used in pharmaceuticals, plastics, and textiles, but production has been suspended amid soaring energy costs and supply disruptions.