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BATON ROUGE, La., July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Specialty chemicals maker Albemarle Corporation will increase the prices worldwide of its ANTIBLAZE(R) and certain phosphorus-containing SAYTEX(R) flame retardants used in construction and furnishing applications by up to 25 percent. The increases are effective immediately, or as contracts allow. In addition, all extended pricing validity is being eliminated.

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"These increases are needed to help offset the enormous increases in the costs of phosphorus-based raw materials, energy and transportation," said Jan Vijverman, Albemarle's global business manager for polyurethane flame retardants. "Changes made by the Chinese government in May have increased the export tax on elemental phosphorus from 20 percent up to 120 percent, contributing significantly to overall costs and reducing the ability to sustain this valuable and important business without a significant change in pricing."

ANTIBLAZE and SAYTEX flame retardants add life-saving properties to materials used in rigid foam insulation and roofing materials; flexible foam for furniture and furnishings; and coatings, adhesives, sealants and other building materials.

Albemarle is one of the world's largest developers and manufacturers of products used to protect life and property from fire in a variety of materials and products, from rigid plastics used in circuit boards, connectors and housings for consumer electronics, to automotive wire & cable, to flexible foam stocks for furniture and automotive seats, and rigid foam building and construction materials. The flame retardants business is part of Albemarle's Polymer Additives segment.

Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered specialty chemicals for consumer electronics; petroleum and petrochemical processing; transportation and industrial products; pharmaceuticals; agricultural products; and construction and packaging materials. The Company operates in three business segments -- Polymer Additives, Catalysts and Fine Chemicals, and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. Learn more about Albemarle at http://www.albemarle.com/.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Albemarle Corporation's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.