EANS-News: Wacker Chemie AG / POLYSILICON FACILITIES START UP AT WACKER´S BURGHAUSEN SITE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
responsible for the content of this announcement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plant Openings

Burghausen, April 21, 2010 (euro adhoc) - Additional
polycrystalline-silicon production facilities officially came on
stream at Wacker Chemie AG´s Burghausen site today. All "Expansion
Stage 8" deposition reactors are already up and running. The plant´s
full nominal capacity of 10,000 metric tons a year will be reached
before the end of Q2 2010. WACKER is thus half a year ahead of its
original, very ambitious schedule. Overall, WACKER is investing
around EUR500 million in this expansion stage, thereby creating some
200 new jobs. Expanding output enables WACKER to meet rising global
demand for hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. The new facilities can
manufacture material for both the solar sector and the semiconductor
market.

During the opening ceremony, CEO Rudolf Staudigl underlined the
important role that the polysilicon business plays for WACKER. He
explained that polysilicon has clearly become a mainstay of the
entire Group over the recent years. "WACKER POLYSILICON maintains its
position as a key driving force for our profitable growth,"
emphasized Staudigl. Expansion Stage 8 has increased WACKER´s annual
polysilicon production capacity to over 25,000 tons. Thanks to this
production capacity expansion, the Munich-based Chemical Group has
solidified its position as the world´s second-largest manufacturer of
hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. In addition, a further plant with
a 10,000-ton annual polysilicon capacity is currently being built at
WACKER´s Nünchritz site. In total, WACKER is investing some EUR2
billion in its capacity expansion program, which began back in 2000.

The current Expansion Stage 8 is fully linked with the Burghausen
site´s integrated silicon production system. In this highly
integrated material loop, by-products are recycled as feedstock for
use elsewhere in the supply chain. This cuts costs, while conserving
resources and strengthening the site´s competitiveness. In total,
polysilicon expansion will create some 650 new jobs at the Burghausen
plant by late 2010.

In his speech, Dr. Staudigl thanked everyone involved in the project
- both in-house staff and partner firms - for their tremendous
efforts. This, he said, was one of the main reasons WACKER can supply
its customers with Expansion Stage 8 polysilicon several months
earlier than planned. "Polysilicon made by WACKER is so successful
thanks to our cost and quality leadership, which gives us a key
competitive edge on international markets," he stressed.

This press 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 the obligation to do
so.

end of announcement euro adhoc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ots Originaltext: Wacker Chemie AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Corporate Communications

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