Whirlpool to close Shanghai plant

American appliance maker Whirlpool announced that it would be closing its washing machine factory in Shanghai, Dow Jones Newswires reported. The closure of the factory would eliminate 600 jobs. Production is to be transferred to Whirlpool’s joint venture factory with Chinese manufacturer Hisense in Zhejiang province, which is expected to create 900 new jobs by the end of the year. Analysts said the move was not unexpected given Whirlpool’s weakness in Asian markets, including China. Whirlpool formed its joint venture with Hisense Kelon in 2008 to develop and manufacture washing machines and refrigerators.