05/05/2008 - Süd-Chemie Group continues good performance in the first quarter of 2008

- Considerable rises in revenue and operating profit in the first quarter of 2008: Revenue rises by 8.7 % to €269.2 million, EBIT rises by 8.4% to €27.0 million
- Confirmation of positive outlook for the full year 2008: revenue expected to increase by at least 7% and the operating profit (EBIT) by at least 10%

Süd-Chemie AG, Munich has continued last year‘s successful performance throughout the first quarter of 2008, generating considerable rises in Group revenue and in consolidated profit from operations compared with the strong first quarter of 2007.

During the first three months of 2008, Group revenue rose by 8.7% compared with the first quarter of 2007 to reach €269.2 million. Negative currency effects due to the increased external value of the Euro reduced total revenue by €10.8 million. Adjusted for this effect, revenue was up 13.1%. Both divisions of the speciality chemicals company, Adsorbents and Catalysts, contributed to the Group‘s positive performance. Particularly steep rises in demand were reported for Süd-Chemie‘s bleaching earth products, process catalysts and foundry chemicals in Europe.

Reaching €27.0 million or 8.4% more than in the first three months of 2007, profit from operations (EBIT) also reported a positive result. Both divisions contributed to the positive performance. In the Catalysts Division the rise in operating profit considerably outpaced the rise in revenue. Profit rises resulted mainly from the launch of new products, from increased process optimizations and from regional business expansion with both divisions increasingly recouping the rises in costs of raw materials and energy by higher selling prices. Earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA) improved by 7.4% to €37.9 million.

Based on an overall confidence in the growth perspectives of the global economy and the world chemical production, Süd-Chemie's Managing Board is expecting to increase the Group's revenue by at least 7% and the EBIT by at least 10% in 2008. Süd-Chemie AG Managing Board Member and CFO Edgar Binnemann said: "In spite of a slight deceleration in the growth dynamics of the world economy we will continue our profitable growth in 2008. Süd-Chemie Group remains on target to increase revenues to more €1.3 billion by 2010, while at the same time permanently increasing profitability."

Süd-Chemie's Interim Report for the first quarter of 2008 is available at www.sud-chemie.com.

Munich, 5 May 2008

Enquiries to:

Süd-Chemie AG
Corporate Communications and Board Affairs
Patrick Salchow, Jochen Orlowski
Tel. +49 (0) 89 5110-250/-247

Statements relating to future events

This report contains statements relating to future events based on current estimates made by the management with respect to prospective developments. Such statements are subject to uncertainties and risks which Süd-Chemie is neither able to control nor accurately assess, including for instance future market conditions and the economic environment, the behaviour of other market participants or governmental measures. Should any one of these or other uncertain or imponderable factors take effect, or should assumptions on which the statements are based prove to be incorrect, the actual results may differ significantly from those explicitly defined or implicitly contained in these statements. Süd-Chemie neither intends nor undertakes a specific obligation to update statements relating to future events in order to adjust these in line with events or developments occurring after the date of this report.

About Süd-Chemie

Süd-Chemie AG (www.sud-chemie.com) is a publicly quoted (Security Identification Number ISIN: DE0007292005; WKN: 729200) specialty chemicals 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 and water treatment. Products manufactured by the Catalysts Division offer solutions for the chemical, petrochemical and refinery industries, for 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. Süd-Chemie generated sales of €1.075 billion in 2007, approx. 80% of these outside Germany. At the end of 2007, the group employed more than 5,000 people at its 70 sales and production sites worldwide.