{"ok":true,"trend":{"id":405460,"platform":"news","region":"global","key":"business watch: westlake to close pvc plant in cologne, and more","title":"Business Watch: Westlake to close PVC plant in Cologne, and more","url":"https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxNVE5vRERCdXZsLXlEM1lUM0o5QTFaZDR6ZFhkNUNjbkdyVGZPTHJYWVdDbTFrWkY1cTRXblhIdXZKMHF1MzM3QkU1RHhsVklIcHpIM0Z0aU1yRVdKX21zWThhRVVsV1B4YmotZS1yY3FaTUhkMEhJZVNRTEozWmQtdWpXUHVFREVObzFhZTgxcVh0Q0NCemtfU3J3ekdUalBNVndrbjBn?oc=5","first_seen":"2026-09-29T21:36:53.319342Z","last_seen":"2026-09-30T01:43:08.591387Z","last_rank":25,"peak_rank":9,"last_volume":null,"peak_volume":0,"seen_count":4,"score":30.79,"category_hint":"business","section":"business","category":"business","summary":"Westlake, the US-based chemicals producer, has announced it will shut its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant in Cologne, Germany. The decision adds to a wave of European chemical plant closures as producers struggle with weak demand, high energy costs and overcapacity in commodity plastics. The closure is expected to affect the site's workforce, though details on timing and severance remain limited.","why":"Chemical industry closures in Europe are a sensitive economic and employment issue, and job losses at a major industrial site draw wide attention.","tone":"negative","entities":["Westlake Corporation","Cologne","PVC","Germany"],"summarized_at":"2026-09-30T03:39:28.634156Z","meta":{"via":"scan","lang":"en","term":"business","source":"Chemical & Engineering News","published":"Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:49:23 GMT"},"nw":null,"promo":null,"kind":null,"importance":null,"hidden":false,"hide_reason":null,"judged_at":null,"title_en":"Westlake to close PVC plant in Cologne","section_name":"Business","category_name":"Business","timeline":[{"captured_at":"2026-09-29T21:36:53.319342Z","rank":25,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-09-29T22:58:53.406067Z","rank":9,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-09-30T00:21:07.451142Z","rank":20,"volume":null},{"captured_at":"2026-09-30T01:43:08.591387Z","rank":25,"volume":null}],"posts":[{"platform":"news","url":"https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxNVE5vRERCdXZsLXlEM1lUM0o5QTFaZDR6ZFhkNUNjbkdyVGZPTHJYWVdDbTFrWkY1cTRXblhIdXZKMHF1MzM3QkU1RHhsVklIcHpIM0Z0aU1yRVdKX21zWThhRVVsV1B4YmotZS1yY3FaTUhkMEhJZVNRTEozWmQtdWpXUHVFREVObzFhZTgxcVh0Q0NCemtfU3J3ekdUalBNVndrbjBn?oc=5","author":"Chemical & Engineering News","title":"Business Watch: Westlake to close PVC plant in Cologne, and more","snippet":null,"posted_at":"2026-09-29T18:49:23Z","likes":null}],"elsewhere":[],"window":"7d"}}