euro adhoc: Wacker Chemie AG / quarterly or semiannual financial statement / WACKER POSTS SUBSTANTIAL SALES AND EARNINGS GAINS IN Q1 2006

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Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc.
The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
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16.05.2006

Munich, May 16, 2006 - Wacker Chemie AG reported strong year-on-year
sales growth and even stronger earnings for Q1 2006. Consolidated
sales rose to EUR798.5 million (Q1 2005: EUR608.2 million). Despite
higher raw material and energy costs, the Munich-based chemical
company doubled its year-on-year EBITDA to EUR183.6 million (Q1 2005:
EUR92.0 million). Group result reached EUR66.2 million, up EUR86.5
million year-on-year. Equity increased by 4.1% to EUR930.7 million
(Q1 2005: EUR893.7 million), resulting in an equity ratio of 30.8%
(Q1 2005: 30.8%). Net debt came down by 4% to EUR954.1 million (Q1
2005: EUR994.0 million). Total assets increased by 4 % to EUR3,019.8
million (Q1 2005: EUR2,900.2 million). Earnings per share reached
EUR1.49 (Q1 2005: EUR-0.39). During Q1 2006, 44.3 million shares were
outstanding on average. WACKER expects to continue the upward trend
during 2006 in a favorable economic environment. An uncertain factor,
however, is the impact of higher oil prices on the global economy.
For the full year 2006 WACKER now expects sales growth slightly
higher than 10%, which was last year’s growth rate. Full year EBITDA
2006 is expected between EUR640 and 680 million. The full quarterly
report is available for download from Wacker Chemie AG’s website
under the caption Investor Relations (www.wacker.com).

Additional information: ISIN: DE000WCH8881 WKN: WCH888 Deutsche
Boerse: WCH Ticker Bloomberg: CHM/WCK.GR Ticker Reuters: CHE/WCHG.DE
Listing: Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse),
Official Market (Prime Standard)

Disclaimer: This ad hoc-release contains forward looking statements
based on assumptions and estimates of WACKER's Executive Board.
Although we assume the expectations in these forward looking
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 forward looking statements, nor does it assume
an obligation to do so.

end of announcement euro adhoc 16.05.2006 07:31:18
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ots Originaltext: Wacker Chemie AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
Mr. Joerg Hoffmann
Tel. +49 89 6279 1633
Fax +49 89 6279 2933
investor.relations@wacker.com

Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
WKN: WCH888
Index: CDAX
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / official dealing/prime standard
Börse Berlin-Bremen / free trade
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
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