ESSEN (dpa-AFX) - Chemicals group Evonik is pushing ahead with the sale of its businesses, which are heavily dependent on general economic trends. "The transfer of our Lülsdorf site to new hands will be the next step in the sale of the businesses of our Performance Materials Division," Group CEO Christian Kullmann said Thursday as he presented the company's annual figures for 2022, according to a statement. Negotiations are at an advanced stage, he added. Evonik bundled its businesses related to standard chemical products in the Performance Materials Division some time ago. Since then, the focus has been on the three growth divisions Specialty Additives, Nutrition & Care and Smart Materials.

According to company statements, Evonik employs around 500 people at the Lülsdorf site. Chlorine electrolysis is used there to produce alcoholates, which are mainly needed for biodiesel production, but are also used in cosmetics, rust protection products, and foodstuffs./mis/mf/men