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Changes in Whirlpool’s industrial operation involve factories in Latin America and highlight production decisions, restructuring costs, and the transfer of activities between company units.
Whirlpool announced on July 1, 2026 that it will gradually close the Supsa unit in Apodaca, Mexico, as part of a reorganization of its refrigerator production structure.
According to a document sent to the market, manufacturing will be transferred to the Ramos Arizpe plant, also in Mexico, and to other points in the company’s manufacturing network and supply chain by the second quarter of 2027.
The decision was communicated in the context of a restructuring plan aimed at cost reduction and the reorganization of the company’s industrial operation.
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In the document, Whirlpool states that the change seeks to adjust its production base in the refrigeration category and concentrate part of the operation in other existing units.
Closure of Whirlpool’s factory in Mexico
Whirlpool estimates that the closure of the Mexican unit will generate total restructuring costs of approximately US$ 165 million.
Of this amount, about US$ 70 million is expected to represent future cash outflows, as reported by the company itself.
The estimate includes up to US$ 95 million in asset impairment losses, around US$ 30 million in employee-related costs, and approximately US$ 40 million in other expenses associated with the process.
The company did not detail, in the consulted document, how these costs will be distributed by transition stage.
For 2026, the company expects to record approximately US$ 100 million of the total estimated.
In the same period, Whirlpool expects to disburse about US$ 15 million of the US$ 70 million forecasted in future cash outflows.
The closure of the operation in Apodaca will be carried out gradually until 2027.
During this period, part of the production currently linked to Supsa is expected to be absorbed by the Ramos Arizpe factory and other units in the company’s global network.
Industrial restructuring of Whirlpool in Mexico
In the statement, Whirlpool reported that it had already mentioned changes in its manufacturing structure during the first quarter 2026 earnings conference call.
The company attributes the process to the pursuit of operational efficiency within its production network.
The Supsa unit is located in Apodaca, in the state of Nuevo León, in northern Mexico.
The document sent to the market does not specify how many workers will be directly affected by the factory closure.
It was also not detailed whether all products manufactured in Apodaca will be transferred to Ramos Arizpe or if part of the operation will be distributed among units in other countries.
The company only informed that the relocation will occur within its manufacturing network and supply chain.
The announcement in Mexico follows another change involving Whirlpool’s operations in Latin America.
In Brazil, the company had already announced the transfer of production maintained in Pilar, Argentina, to the Rio Claro unit, in the interior of São Paulo.
Transfer of Production from Argentina to Rio Claro
On April 20, 2026, Whirlpool S.A. informed the Brazilian market that its Board of Directors approved the shift of production previously conducted in Pilar, Argentina, to the Rio Claro factory.
The Argentine operation was conducted by Whirlpool Argentina S.R.L.
This statement followed information released on November 26, 2025, when the company announced the closure of manufacturing activities at the Argentine unit.
According to the company, the decision is part of an ongoing process of reviewing and enhancing the production structure, focusing on operational efficiency, optimization of installed capacity, and resource allocation.
In Brazil, Whirlpool is responsible for brands such as Brastemp, Consul, and KitchenAid.
With the change, the Rio Claro factory will absorb the production previously conducted in Pilar, following a transition schedule with operational and logistical adjustments.
The company also reported that it acquired certain industrial assets and operational goods from Whirlpool Argentina as part of the necessary adaptations for the transfer of production activities.
According to the company, the full utilization of these assets will follow stages of adaptation and installation in selected Brazilian units.
Whirlpool Supply in Argentina
Even with the closure of production in Pilar, Whirlpool stated that the Argentine market will continue to be served.
According to the statement to the Brazilian market, customers in Argentina will receive products manufactured in different units of the group, with commercialization and distribution by the company’s local operation.
The company also reported that the decision considered the conditions of the markets in which it operates and the capacity of the Brazilian operation to absorb the production previously carried out in Argentina.
The document mentions additional investments compatible with the size of the company, but does not present the total value of these contributions.
In the Argentine case, the transfer involves the production from the Pilar unit to Rio Claro.
In Mexico, the announced closure concerns the Supsa unit in Apodaca, dedicated to the manufacture of refrigerators.
Although the two decisions are related to industrial adjustments, they were communicated in different documents and concern specific operations.
Whirlpool did not inform, in the documents consulted, whether there will be changes in consumer service due to the closure of the Mexican unit.
Details were also not disclosed about possible changes by product line or about commercial impacts in the markets supplied by the Apodaca factory.
Costs and Timelines of Whirlpool’s Restructuring
Whirlpool reported that cost estimates, disbursements, and completion timelines related to the Supsa unit are subject to the execution of the plan and operational conditions.
This type of caveat is common in statements sent to the market, especially when it involves financial projections and restructuring steps still in progress.
By the second quarter of 2027, the company is expected to complete the gradual transfer of production from the Mexican unit.
During the transition period, the company states that it will use its manufacturing network and supply chain to redistribute activities previously concentrated in Apodaca.
In Brazil, Whirlpool S.A. reported that it will keep shareholders and the market updated on any relevant developments related to the internalization of Pilar’s production and adjustments in its production structure.
The changes in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil show a reorganization of Whirlpool’s manufacturing presence in Latin America, according to the statements released by the company.
The extent of the effects on workers, production lines, and served markets still depends on additional information from the company.
