HOUSTON, February 7, 2005 - Lyondell Chemical Company (NYSE:LYO) today announced that its Equistar Chemicals business has introduced Plexar? PX 3410, a new grade of extrudable tie-layer resin.

Compared with conventional tie-layer resins, Plexar PX 3410 resin delivers improved optical clarity (transparency) in coextruded blown films that contain ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) in the core layer.

"Numerous tests on commercial blown film lines have shown that coextruded films containing EVOH and Plexar PX 3410 tie-layer resin have superior transparency," says Tim Burns, Lyondell. "This is essential to our customers because barrier films with excellent optics and transparency are essential for today's retail packages and wraps."

Plexar PX 3410 tie-layer resin is designed to bond unlike materials together including polyethylene resins and copolymers; ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA); polypropylene; polyamide (e.g., nylon); EVOH; ionomer and other sealants. These materials are used as components of multi-layer coextrusions in blown and cast films, sheet and thermoforming, blow molding, extrusion coating and lamination, tubing, pipe, spray coating and other specialty applications.

Like other Plexar resins, Plexar PX 3410 resin meets Food and Drug Administration requirements for adhesives (see 21 C.F.R. ? 175.105). Therefore, it may be used in articles or packaging, transporting or holding food in accordance with conditions outlined in the regulation. Additionally, it has limited approval for direct food contact with certain restrictions.

For information about end-use applications and processing recommendations, contact a member of the Lyondell sales team or visit www.lyondell.com.

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. Equistar Chemicals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lyondell.

SOURCE: Lyondell, Inc.

CONTACT: Eric Stebel
713-309-3987
eric.stebel@lyondell.com