EANS-News: WACKER Expands Polysilicon Production in Burghausen and Nünchritz

- Debottlenecking increases capacity by a total of 10,000 metric tons
per year
- Investment volume totals some €130 million
- Start of
production expected in 2012
- CEO Rudolf Staudigl: “Thanks to our
extensive technological expertise and our experienced engineering and
production teams, we can implement this expansion quickly and
cost-effectively.”

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Company Information

Subtitle: - Debottlenecking increases capacity by a total of 10,000
metric tons per year - Investment volume totals some €130 million -
Start of production expected in 2012 - CEO Rudolf Staudigl: “Thanks
to our extensive technological expertise and our experienced
engineering and production teams, we can implement this expansion
quickly and cost-effectively.”

Munich (euro adhoc) - March 14, 2011 - Wacker Chemie AG has decided
to expand its production facilities for hyperpure polysilicon at its
Burghausen and Nünchritz sites in Germany. The Munich-based chemical
company announced the decision today. By taking debottlenecking
measures within its integrated production network, it will increase
annual quantities at each site by 5,000 metric tons. Thus,
Burghausen´s annual capacity will rise from some 32,000 metric tons
now to about 37,000. At Nünchritz, the polysilicon facility currently
under construction and due to come on stream by year-end was to have
a production capacity of around 10,000 metric tons per year. Now, its
capacity is increasing to 15,000 metric tons annually. First volumes
from these expansion measures are expected to be available in 2012.
The debottlenecking involves investments totaling some EUR130
million.

As already reported, WACKER is also building a new
polysilicon-production facility in Cleveland, Tennessee (USA) with an
annual capacity of 15,000 metric tons. It is expected to be completed
by the end of 2013. Thus, WACKER´s total hyperpure-polysilicon
production capacity will increase to 67,000 metric tons by 2014.

The expansion will enable WACKER to meet the continued rising global
demand it expects for hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. WACKER has
concluded a series of high-volume, multiyear contracts that also
involve advance payments by customers for future deliveries. Thus,
polysilicon from ongoing production in Burghausen and originally
planned capacities in Nünchritz and Tennessee are essentially under
contract until 2014.

"This expansion is necessary for us to continue meeting our
customers´ demand for top-quality and highly efficient solar-grade
polysilicon in the years to come," explains Wacker Chemie AG CEO
Rudolf Staudigl. "Thanks to our extensive technological expertise and
our experienced engineering and production teams, we can implement
this expansion quickly and cost-effectively."

WACKER manufactured over 30,000 metric tons of hyperpure polysilicon
in 2010, making it one of the top producers worldwide. With the two
polysilicon facilities currently under construction in Nünchritz and
Cleveland, WACKER is strengthening its position as a leading supplier
of high-quality semiconductor- and solar-grade silicon.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on
assumptions and estimates of WACKER´s Executive Board. Although we
assume the expectations in these forwardlooking statements are
realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The
assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the
actual figures to differ considerably from the forward-looking
statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among
other things, changes in the economic and business environment,
variations in exchange and interest rates, the introduction of
competing products, lack of acceptance for new products or services,
and changes in corporate strategy. WACKER does not plan to update the
forwardlooking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do
so.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Wacker Chemie AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Christof Bachmair
Media Relations & Information
Tel.: +49 (0)89 6279 1830
E-Mail: christof.bachmair@wacker.com

Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
WKN: WCH888
Index: Midcap Market Index, MDAX, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX,
Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard