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Whirlpool Corporation will close its Supsa manufacturing plant in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, by the second quarter of 2027 as part of a manufacturing network restructuring designed to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs in its refrigeration business. The restructuring is expected to save up to US$165 million in costs and be completed in 2027.
Whirlpool Corporation is restructuring its manufacturing footprint in Mexico with the planned closure of its Supsa production facility in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, marking one of the company’s most significant operational adjustments in recent years. The transition forms part of a restructuring strategy first outlined during Whirlpool’s first-quarter 2026 earnings call.
The company announced that the Supsa facility will cease operations by the second quarter of 2027, with production gradually transferred to Whirlpool’s manufacturing plant in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, and other facilities within its existing manufacturing and supply chain network.
“We regularly review our manufacturing footprint to ensure the company remains agile, resilient, and positioned to serve consumers and retail partners,” the company says in a statement. Whirlpool adds that consolidating operations in Mexico is intended “to improve efficiency and strengthen our manufacturing network.”
The move reflects a broader effort to streamline production, strengthen manufacturing efficiency, and optimize costs across its refrigeration business. Manufacturers across multiple industries continue reassessing production networks to balance operational resilience, manufacturing efficiency, and long-term cost competitiveness.
Rather than representing a withdrawal from Mexico, Whirlpool’s plan redistributes production within its existing domestic manufacturing base.
Whirlpool Objective
According to documents filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the restructuring specifically targets the company’s refrigeration product category, where Whirlpool expects operational consolidation to improve its cost structure while simplifying its manufacturing footprint.
Refrigerator production carried out at the Supsa plant will be relocated primarily to Ramos Arizpe, with additional production absorbed by other facilities across Whirlpool’s broader manufacturing and supply chain network. The phased approach is intended to minimize operational disruption while allowing the company to complete the transition over approximately one year.
The restructuring carries an estimated cost of up to US$165 million. Of that amount, Whirlpool expects about US$95 million to be associated with asset impairment charges. Another US$30 million is expected to cover employee-related costs, while about US$40 million will correspond to other expenses linked to the reorganization.
The company estimates that about US$70 million of the total restructuring cost will require future cash expenditures. Whirlpool also expects approximately US$100 million of the restructuring charges to be recognized during 2026, while approximately US$15 million of the anticipated cash expenditures are also expected to occur next year. According to the company, the restructuring should be largely complete in 2027.
Although financial optimization is the primary objective, the announcement also raises questions about the workforce at the Apodaca facility. Whirlpool has not disclosed how many employees could be affected or whether workers will be relocated within its manufacturing network. “We understand the effect this announcement has on our employees and we are committed to supporting them through this transition,” says the company.
Public filings do not provide additional details regarding workforce adjustments or the transition process beyond the company’s commitment to employee support.
Mexico, A Trusted Manufacturer
The restructuring nevertheless underscores Whirlpool’s continued commitment to manufacturing in Mexico. The company now operates five manufacturing plants in the country, including three facilities in Apodaca, one in Celaya, Guanajuato, and the one in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila.
Once the Supsa closure is completed, Ramos Arizpe will become the primary production hub for the refrigerator manufacturing currently performed in Apodaca, while other manufacturing activities will be redistributed across Whirlpool’s broader operational network.
For manufacturers, the announcement illustrates how companies are increasingly prioritizing production optimization within existing regional footprints rather than relocating operations internationally. Consolidating manufacturing capacity, improving asset utilization, and reducing structural costs have become central strategies as industrial companies seek greater flexibility amid evolving market conditions.
Whirlpool also cautioned that both the timing and ultimate cost of the restructuring remain subject to change as the project advances. The company says final expenses could vary depending on implementation progress and other operational factors.
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