WACKER expands polysilicon production at its Burghausen site to 21,500 metric tons per year

- DECISION TO EXPAND NOMINAL PRODUCTION CAPACITY BY ANOTHER 7,000
METRIC TONS PER YEAR - CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OF ABOUT €400 MILLION ARE
ESTIMATED TO CREATE SOME 200 JOBS - CEO PETER-ALEXANDER WACKER:
“CAPACITY EXPANSION REFLECTS STRONG CUSTOMER DEMAND”

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Munich/Burghausen (euro adhoc) - June 14, 2007 - WACKER plans to
expand its annual polysilicon production capacity at its Burghausen
site by an additional 7,000 metric tons to a total of 21,500 metric
tons per year. Combined with production expansion measures already
under way, WACKER´s nominal production capacity will more than triple
from currently 6,500 metric tons per year. First material for sale
from the new, so-called "capacity expansion stage 8" is expected to
be available already in Q4 2009. The new plant is scheduled to reach
full capacity until 2010. WACKER has earmarked capital expenditures
of around EUR400 million for this project, which is expected to
create some 200 new jobs.

By expanding its output, WACKER intends to meet soaring global demand
for hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. The main growth driver is the
solar industry, which requires silicon for the manufacture of solar
cells. WACKER forecasts further solar-market growth over the next few
years. Consequently, it expects solar-sector polysilicon demand to
increase at an annual double-digit rate. As for the electronics
sector, WACKER is expecting a rise of polysilicon demand by almost 10
percent per year.

"Today´s expansion decision reflects the continuously strong demand
of our polysilicon customers," said Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker, the
Group´s president and CEO. "We are already the world´s second-largest
polysilicon producer. By heavily increasing our capacities, we intend
to keep narrowing the gap on the market leader. Also, we consider
this project a major contribution to accelerate growth in the solar
industry," added the CEO.

"Thanks to its advanced infrastructure and integrated production
systems, Burghausen proved to be the best location for this capacity
expansion - from both an economic and technical point of view,"
explained Ewald Schindlbeck, President of WACKER POLYSILICON. "An
especially important factor in Burghausen´s favor," he added, "is the
short time needed to complete the new facility there."

WACKER has been producing hyperpure polycrystalline silicon for the
semiconductor industry at its Burghausen site for over 50 years. With
solar-silicon demand rising, WACKER POLYSILICON has been increasing
sales to the photovoltaics industry over the past six years while
expanding capacity step by step.

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 14.06.2007 07:30:00
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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: CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX, MDAX, Midcap Market Index,
Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / official dealing/prime standard