BASF Catalysts LLC Increases Prices for Oil Refinery Products

ISELIN, NJ, November 3, 2006 — BASF Catalysts LLC  (formerly Engelhard Corporation) today announced it is raising prices worldwide for its oil refinery products, which are used to produce gasoline and other fuels, by 10%, or as contracts allow. The price increase will be effective January 1, 2007.

"Higher natural gas costs, combined with persistently higher crude oil prices have increased the cost to manufacture these products, particularly with their impact on transportation and raw materials costs,” said Bruce Lerner, BASF Catalysts General Manager, Process Technologies.  “While we have continually used productivity to offset this impact, we find these price increases necessary to partially offset some of these costs while maintaining our increased investment in research and development and high-quality manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand.”

BASF’s refinery technologies include state-of-the-art fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts that help refiners to increase yields of gasoline, diesel, and other fuels cost effectively.  The price increase also applies to the company’s FCC additives, which are used to help boost fuel production and improve environmental performance.

BASF Catalysts LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF Corporation, is a world-leading provider of technologies for environmental, process and appearance and performance applications.

BASF – The Chemical Company.  We don’t make a lot of the products you buy.  We make a lot of the products you buy better.^® BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF employs about 16,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $11.3 billion in 2005. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

As the world’s leading chemical company, BASF's portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. BASF’s intelligent system solutions and high-value products help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future.

For more information, contact:
Ted Lowen
BASF Catalysts LLC
Tel:  (732) 205-6360
Email:  theodore.lowen@basf.com