Baxter Cuts Roughly 90 Jobs at IV Solutions Plant that Recovered From Hurricane Helene

Why It Matters

The reduction signals a strategic realignment of production capacity amid lingering demand weakness, affecting both supply‑chain reliability and regional employment. Investors and hospitals will watch how Baxter balances cost control with the need to maintain a critical medical‑supply foothold.

Key Takeaways

• Baxter reduces ~90 jobs at Marion IV plant.
• Cuts represent ~3% of local workforce.
• Plant supplies ~60% of U.S. IV fluids.
• Demand remains 10‑15% below pre‑hurricane levels.
• CFO expects ongoing fluid conservation through 2026.

Pulse Analysis

Baxter’s decision to trim roughly 90 jobs at its North Cove site reflects a broader effort to align manufacturing capacity with softened demand. The cuts, amounting to about 3% of the Marion workforce, are part of a routine network review that aims to preserve profitability while sustaining the plant’s strategic role. Although the layoffs may raise concerns locally, Baxter emphasizes that the facility remains essential to its infusion therapies portfolio, and the company will continue supporting remaining staff through transition programs.

The IV fluid market has not fully rebounded since Hurricane Helene disrupted production in 2024, creating a nationwide shortage that prompted hospitals to adopt conservation measures. Even after restoring output, demand lags 10‑15% behind pre‑storm levels, according to CFO Joel Grade. This persistent gap has forced Baxter to manage inventory more tightly and to work closely with customers on utilization strategies. The plant’s contribution of roughly 60% of U.S. IV solutions underscores the significance of any demand fluctuation for both the company’s revenue stream and the broader healthcare supply chain.

Looking ahead, Baxter’s workforce adjustment signals a cautious outlook for the infusion therapies segment, which posted flat sales of $3.04 billion in the nine months to September 2025. Investors will gauge how effectively the firm can maintain market share while navigating ongoing conservation trends. Competitors may see an opening to capture niche segments, but Baxter’s entrenched distribution network and focus on efficiency could preserve its leadership position. The company’s ability to balance cost discipline with reliable product availability will be a key determinant of its performance through 2026.

Baxter cuts roughly 90 jobs at IV solutions plant that recovered from Hurricane Helene

By Elise Reuter, Senior Reporter · Published Feb. 10, 2026 · Hospitals took measures to conserve IV fluid after a Baxter manufacturing plant in North Carolina was damaged by Hurricane Helene. Getty Images

Dive Brief

• Baxter cut approximately 90 employees from a facility in Marion, North Carolina, that makes IV solutions for hospitals. The cuts, which took place in late January, account for about 3 % of the company’s workforce in Marion, a Baxter spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement Monday.

• The North Cove site was hit by Hurricane Helene in 2024, triggering a nationwide shortage of IV fluids. Baxter worked to restore production at the facility over the following months.

• Hospitals took measures to conserve IV fluids during the shortage. Demand is still 10 % to 15 % lower than pre‑hurricane levels, Baxter CFO Joel Grade said in a presentation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference last month.

Dive Insight

Baxter’s North Cove site made about 60 % of the U.S. supply of IV fluids. Demand has recovered since the hurricane, but not as much as Baxter had expected. Grade told investors in an October earnings call that the company expects some level of fluid conservation will likely remain in 2026.

“Our teams are actively, and with urgency, working with our customers to continue to help improve their utilization because this is not an issue of product availability from our perspective,” the CFO added.

When asked about the cuts, a company spokesperson said that Baxter regularly reviews its manufacturing network, which helps the company align production with demand. The company is still committed to the Marion site and the employees who work there, the spokesperson wrote.

The company’s infusion therapies and technologies segment, which includes IV solutions, reported $3.04 billion in sales in the nine months ending in September 2025, roughly flat compared with the year‑ago period.