Dutch offshore wind foundation specialist Sif has announced a significant delay in the ramp-up of its new Maasvlakte 2 factory in Rotterdam, pushing full production capacity back to the first half of 2026. This revision extends the original timeline by six to nine months, a development that could ripple through the offshore wind sector’s supply chain and project timelines.
Chief executive Fred van Beers attributed the delay to the time required for workforce training, equipment stabilisation, and refining working procedures at the expanded facility. “The time required to ramp up production will continue into the first half year of 2026,” he stated. “This results in lower output in 2025 than originally anticipated, and a delay of 6–9 months compared to the original business case.”
Despite the setback, Sif has delivered foundations for the Empire Wind project within specifications, meeting the project’s installation window. The company’s Roermond facility has also produced transition pieces and top sections for Empire Wind 1, Ecowende, and Baltyk projects.
Van Beers emphasised that Sif prioritises a stable, safe, and high-quality production process over short-term financial gains. “Rather than focusing on the alternative of short-term EBITDA maximisation, our focus now is achieving robust and stable operations, and taking the time needed to implement the right industrialisation measures,” he said.
This strategic shift is reflected in Sif’s financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA for the first half of 2025 fell to €12.9m, down from €26.1m in the same period last year. However, revenue rose to €258m compared with €231m in 2024, with significant contributions from offshore wind foundations (€64m), offshore structures (€10.6m), and other services (€5.4m).
Sif has revised its full-year adjusted EBITDA outlook for 2025 to €45m but reiterated its target of at least €160m annualised run-rate EBITDA from 2026, with provisional minimum guidance of €135m for that year.
The company produced 80 kilotonnes of steel foundations in the first half of 2025, including 44 monopiles and 34 transition pieces, compared with 86 kilotonnes in 2024. The manufactured foundations in the period will result in 529MW of renewable capacity, down from 773MW last year.
To address the challenges, Sif is strengthening its operations organisation with a new chief operating officer, while the current COO focuses on the technical completion of the ramp-up plan. External specialists and equipment suppliers are also supporting a significant process modification programme to stabilise production at Maasvlakte 2.
Van Beers acknowledged the near-term challenges in the offshore wind market but expressed confidence in improving fundamentals from 2028 onwards. “We remain confident in the medium to long-term outlook for the offshore wind market but expect a further offshore wind project development slowdown short term mainly due to non-market conform tender criteria, grid congestion and prices for electricity,” he said.
Sif’s order book stood at 625 kilotonnes at the end of August, up from 435 kilotonnes a year earlier. This includes a 200 kilotonne addition for 2027 and 2028, which has moved from preferred status to exclusive negotiations.
Van Beers concluded: “Our confidence in the medium to long-term outlook for the offshore wind market is further underpinned by this addition to the orderbook. Based on the actual progress of the actions being undertaken and the output during the second half of 2025, we will provide further guidance towards the end of the year.”
This news could influence the offshore wind sector’s supply chain dynamics, project timelines, and investor confidence. The delay in Sif’s ramp-up may necessitate adjustments in project schedules and could impact the availability of foundations for other offshore wind developments. Moreover, the company’s strategic focus on long-term stability and quality over short-term gains could set a precedent for other players in the industry. The sector will be watching closely as Sif navigates this challenging period and works towards stabilising its production processes.