desindustrializar

An economics term for the decline of a region's or country's industrial base — la crisis desindustrializó buena parte del norte del país. Common in journalism and policy discussion, almost always describing a large-scale, often painful economic shift, not a single factory closing.

• La apertura comercial desindustrializó varias regiones en los noventa. — Trade liberalization deindustrialized several regions in the '90s.
• Temen que la crisis energética termine de desindustrializar el país. — They fear the energy crisis will finish deindustrializing the country.
• El cierre de fábricas desindustrializó la zona en pocos años. — Factory closures deindustrialized the area within a few years.

Using it for one plant or business closing — desindustrializar describes a broad structural shift; a single factory closing is just cerrar.