January 23, 2006 – Basell announced today that it will increase prices by € 100 per tonne on all polypropylene and polyethylene grades sold in Europe effective February 1. “This increase is necessary due to the continued climb in crude oil prices since the start of the year,” said Werner Breuers, president of Basell Polyolefins Europe. “Margins remain under severe pressure.” Basell is the world's largest producer of polypropylene and advanced polyolefin products, a leading supplier of polyethylene and catalysts, and a global leader in the development and licensing of polypropylene and polyethylene processes.

Basell, together with its joint ventures, has manufacturing facilities around the world and sells products in more than 120 countries. Additional information about Basell is available at www.basell.com. For more information contact Chantal Sohm, Basell Corporate Communications at + 33 1 55 51 21 19 or + 33 6 72 68 30 93 or chantal.sohm@basell.com