LITHIUM DIVISION ANNOUNCES GLOBAL PRICE INCREASES

Rockwoods PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Rockwood Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ROC) lithium division is announcing price increases of up to 20 percent for its lithium salts, including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, and increases on lithium metal battery grade, effective July 1. The company is also implementing and adjusting specific surcharges due to the requirements of its different global markets. The company is taking this action to recover the increased costs for energy, raw materials, solvents and transport.

"With this increase we will return prices of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide to the levels of 2008" said Dr. Steffen Haber, President of Rockwoods Chemetall lithium division. "In addition, higher prices will help to support our efforts to increase our global production capacities," Haber explained.

Rockwoods lithium division continues to develop cost-effective and reliable sources of supply and has invested in new capacities and cost-effective technologies. Appropriate prices are necessary to ensure that the company will remain a long term reliable and innovative partner for the companys global customers.

Chemetall Lithium is the worlds leading manufacturer of lithium-based compounds and an innovative developer of metal-based fine chemicals for use in specialty applications. Chemetalls lithium-based compounds are used in a variety of high growth applications, including base chemicals for numerous industries, drug intermediates, elastomers for car tires and rubber soles, lithium batteries, thermoplastic materials and high performance greases. Chemetall has lithium production facilities in the United States, Chile, Germany and Taiwan. For more information go to: www.chemetall.com.  Chemetall is part of Rockwood Holdings, Inc., a leading global specialty chemicals and advanced materials company. Rockwood has a worldwide employee base of approximately 9,600 people and annual net sales of more than $3 billion. The company focuses on global niche segments of the specialty chemicals, pigments and additives and advanced materials markets. For more information on Rockwood, please visit www.rocksp.com.