CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - A DuPont plant which manufactures Kevlar in Berkeley County is closing its doors, putting 113 people out of work.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports (https://bit.ly/2mQMJdE) plant officials notified local employees that it will stop making the high-strength fiber in South Carolina in June and relocate most of the manufacturing work to Virginia.

A neighboring 50-worker company-owned plant that makes a heat-resistant fiber called Hytrel will continue production.

Officials cited fast-moving market conditions brought on by new competition as the main cause of the Kevlar cutback. Another potential factor is DuPont’s plan to cut $1 billion in operating costs ahead of its proposed $140 billion merger with Dow Chemical.

Also, DuPont recently reported that Kevlar sales to the military and the oil-and-gas industry have softened.

___

Information from: The Post and Courier, https://www.postandcourier.com

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC.