Baxter International Closes North Cove Plant Due to Hurricane Helene

Baxter International has temporarily closed its North Cove manufacturing facility in Marion, North Carolina, due to significant damage caused by Hurricane Helene, which has raised concerns about supply shortages of intravenous and peritoneal dialysis solutions. The facility, which employs over 2,500 workers, is the largest manufacturer of these medical products in the U.S. A levee breach resulted in flooding, damaging the site and access bridges, although no injuries have been reported among employees. Baxter is working to assess the damage and resume production as quickly as possible while implementing measures to mitigate supply disruptions, including leveraging its global manufacturing network. Analysts are uncertain about the long-term impact on medical supplies, but believe other manufacturers may help offset losses. The company expects the closure to adversely affect its financial results and has pledged $1.5 million to hurricane recovery efforts.