OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Kerr-McGee Chemical L.L.C. announced plans to close its titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment plant in Antwerp, Belgium, as part of the company's strategy to improve efficiencies and boost margins. The facility, Kerr-McGee's smallest TiO2 plant, will cease production by the end of 2001, the company said.

Kerr-McGee said it has the capability to produce the same or similar TiO2 grades manufactured at the Antwerp site at its other pigment plants in Hamilton, MS; Uerdingen, Germany; Kwinana, Australia; Savannah, GA.; and Botlek, The Netherlands. The move will not affect delivery or other customer requirements, the company said. Kerr-McGee said it remains the world's third largest producer and marketer of TiO2, with annual capacity of about 600,000 metric tons.