January 24, 2008

Jonathan Evans
Evonik Degussa Corporation
Phone	+1 973 541 8106
Jonathan.evans@evonik.com

Evonik Completes Hydrogen Peroxide Expansion In Brazil

Investment Emphasizes Commitment

PARSIPPANY, N.J., January 23, 2008 – Evonik Industries' Active Oxygen Business Line announced the successful expansion of capacity at its state-of-the-art hydrogen peroxide plant in Barra do Riacho, Brazil.

The expansion increased hydrogen peroxide capacity at the plant to 70,000 metric tons per year, with the potential to go up to 100,000 metric tons based on the newly installed steam methane reformer.

“We are pleased that the completion of the expansion comes at a time of continued growing demand for hydrogen peroxide in the region,” said Carlos Gil Mast, Active Oxygens vice president and general manager – Americas. “This adds to our capability to meet the needs of our customers. At Active Oxygens, we continually seek opportunities to enhance our manufacturing capability to respond to customers’ needs.”

Following the successful application of Evonik’s proprietary high performance work solution technology at Barra do Riacho, Gil Mast said, the technology will now be applied to Evonik’s hydrogen peroxide production sites in either Gibbons, Canada or Mobile, Alabama, depending on market requirements. “Utilizing this technology allows us to more efficiently expand existing assets in a very economically favorable way versus building new plants,” said Gil Mast.

“This investment further supports our efforts to be the leader in hydrogen peroxide and enhances our ability to be a more efficient and reliable supplier to our customers,” said Jürgen Meier, business director South America, Active Oxygens.

The Barra do Riacho plant has been in operation since the mid 1990s.

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 2006 more than 43,000 employees generated sales of about Euro 14.8 billion and an operating profit (EBIT) of over Euro 1.2 billion. 

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.