May 21, 2008

Alexandra Boy
Corporate Press
Phone	+49 201 177-3167
Fax	+49 201 177-3030
Alexandra.boy@evonik.com

Evonik Expands Laurolactam Capacity in Marl

Essen, Germany-based Evonik Industries AG will invest a two-digit million euro figure to expand laurolactam production capacity significantly at its Marl site. The new capacity should be available in the second half of 2009. Plans for a further capacity expansion have already begun. Laurolactam is the starting material for the polymer polyamide 12, which is enjoying steadily growing demand in new markets.

“This investment project gives us what we need to further bolster our globally leading market position in polyamide 12,” says Dr. Klaus Engel, member of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries responsible for the Chemicals Business Area.

The High Performance Polymers Business Line markets polyamide 12 as a structural material under the brand name VESTAMID® and as a powder under the name VESTOSINT®. Demand for both products has been rising steadily over the last few years. “The VESTAMID® success story was born forty-five years ago; since then, we've been continually developing the product and increasing production capacity,” recalls Dr. Joachim Leluschko, who heads the business line. “Having reached the global number-one position in polyamide line systems for cars, we're now expanding our business to include large-diameter pipes.”

VESTAMID® is the first polyamide 12 to receive Lloyd’s Register approval for production of flexible risers for transporting offshore production and injection fluids. Successful long-term trials on VESTAMID® gas pipes are now making it possible to exploit the advantages of plastic up to a pressure range of 20 bar in gas distribution systems. These plastic pipes can thus replace steel pipes. The relining sector for piping repairs also has high market potential.

Company information
Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany which operates in three business areas: Chemicals, Energy and Real Estate. Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our strengths are creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2007 about 43,000 employees generated sales of about €14.4 billion and an operating profit (EBIT) of more than €1.3.
Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.