09/13/2006 - Süd-Chemie to expand hydrotalcite production

Süd-Chemie AG, Munich is reacting to the high global demand for heavy-metal-free PVC additives by expanding its hydrotalcite production in Moosburg, Germany. It is expected that future demand will continue to rise sharply. Hydrotalcite manufacturing capacities are to be nearly tripled from the current 5,000 tons per year to up to 15,000 tons by 2008.

Hydrotalcite, a heavy-metal-free filler used as a stabiliser in cables, foil and profiles, as well as plastic sheets, is increasingly replacing lead-based PVC additives. Following a voluntary commitment by the European PVC-stabiliser industry, the demand for hydrotalcite products, such as Süd-Chemie´s SORBACID® and HYCITE®, will be recording high growth rates over the next few years.

Munich, 13 September 2006

Enquiries:

Süd-Chemie AG
Patrick Salchow
Head of Corporate Public Relations
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 5110-250
patrick.salchow@sud-chemie.com

Süd-Chemie AG (www.sud-chemie.com) is a publicly quoted, independent specialty chemical company headquartered in Munich/Germany and operating on a worldwide scale. Key markets served by its Adsorbents Division include the consumer-goods, packaging and foundry industries, as well as the paper and plastics industries. Products manufactured by the Catalysts Division offer solutions for water treatment, petrochemicals processing, energy storage and hydrogen production, as well as off-gas purification. The common denominator of all its products and innovations is the efficient and sparing use of natural resources to enhance the quality of life for humans and the environment. The Süd-Chemie Group generated sales of €933 million in 2005, almost 80% of these outside Germany. Süd-Chemie Group had 4,949 employees at 65 sales and production sites worldwide in mid 2006.