HUNT VALLEY, Md., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lyondell Chemical Company (NYSE: LYO) is increasing its prices for all rutile and anatase Tiona® titanium dioxide (TiO2) products sold to all end-use markets worldwide, effective January 1, 2006, or as contracts allow. Millennium Inorganic Chemicals Inc., a Lyondell company, will increase its TiO2 prices as follows:

In North America, prices will increase by US $0.06 per pound in the United States and Mexico and by C $0.07 per pound in Canada.

In Europe, prices will increase by euro 150 per metric ton.

In the Middle East and Africa, prices will increase by US $200 per metric ton.

In the Caribbean, Central and South America, prices will increase by US $100 per metric ton.

In Asia Pacific, except Australia & Japan, prices will increase by US $150 per metric ton.

In Japan, prices will increase by 20 yen per KG.
  In Australia, prices will increase by A $100 per metric ton.

These increases are in addition to our previously announced October increases.

TiO2 supply and demand worldwide remain tight, and as a result, 30-day order lead time for all Tiona products remains in effect for all regions.

Lyondell Chemical Company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's third-largest independent, publicly traded chemical company. Lyondell is a major global manufacturer of basic chemicals and derivatives including ethylene, propylene, titanium dioxide, styrene, polyethylene, propylene oxide and acetyls. It also is a significant producer of gasoline blending components. The company has a 58.75 percent interest in LYONDELL- CITGO Refining LP, a refiner of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil. Lyondell is a global company operating on five continents and employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide. Millennium Chemicals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lyondell.

Tiona is a registered trademark of Millennium Chemicals, a Lyondell company.

SOURCE: Lyondell Chemical Company; Millennium Chemicals Inc.

CONTACT: Amy Drusano of Millennium Chemicals Inc., +1-410-229-8062, or
amy.drusano@millenniumchem.com

Web site: http://www.lyondell.com/