GREAT LAKES INCREASES FLAME RETARDANT PRICES

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA—Great Lakes Chemical Corporation (NYSE:GLK) today announced it would increase prices worldwide by an average of 15 percent for phosphate ester flame retardants and 10 percent for a range of brominated flame retardants, effective for shipments after April 15, 2004, or as contracts allow. These price increases are in addition to the 7 percent increase for phosphate ester flame retardants that took effect March 1, 2004, and brominated flame retardant price increases that were announced previously.

The company stated that the new pricing is necessary due to the rapidly increasing costs of key raw materials and energy, growing flame retardant end-use demand, and availability concerns for certain key feed stocks. Prices will increase as follows:

* Off-list prices for all Reofos™ and Kronitex™ phosphate ester flame retardants will increase an average of 15 percent

* 10 percent increase in list and off-list prices for polybromostyrene (PBS) flame retardants, including Great Lakes PBDS-80™, Firemaster® PBS-64, Firemaster® PBS-64 HW, and Firemaster® CP44HF

* 10 percent increase in list and off-list prices for the hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) series of flame retardants including Great Lakes CD-75P™, CP-75PC™, CD-75PM™, CD-75PXF™,

SP-75™ and SP-75C™

* 10 percent increase in list and off list price of the tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) flame retardant Great Lakes BA-59P™

Phosphate ester flame retardants are used in flexible PVC applications and in polymers such as PC/ABS and modified PPE for electrical/electronics applications. PBS flame retardants are used in a wide range of engineering thermoplastic resins such as standard or glass filled polyamide 6, polyamide 6/6 and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), primarily for connector and electrical component applications. HBCD products provide flame retardancy to expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), and textile back coatings, and TBBPA flame retardants are used in the manufacture of flame retardant printed circuit boards and as an intermediate for other brominated flame retardants.

Great Lakes is the world’s leading producer of flame retardants with an aggressive commitment to technological innovation and product development. Its extensive line of products includes bromine-, phosphorus-, and antimony-based flame retardants and other synergists, as well as a full line of UV stabilizers, antioxidants, blends and optical monomers. For more information about these product lines, please visit the Great Lakes Polymer Additives web site at www.pa.greatlakes.com.

Reader enquiries

Great Lakes Chemical Corporation
9025 North River Road
Suite 400
Indianapolis
Indiana 46240
U.S.A.

+1 (317) 715-30 00

www.pa.greatlakes.com