GREAT LAKES EXPANDS ELEMENTAL BROMINE AND KEY FLAME RETARDANT DERIVATIVE PRODUCTION

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA — Great Lakes Chemical Corporation (NYSE:GLK) today announced it will add a new bromine supply well for the extraction of elemental bromine at the company’s South Arkansas, USA facility and double the capacity of its polybrominated styrene (PBS) series of performance brominated flame retardants to meet strong industry demand. Expansion of both the elemental bromine and PBS flame retardants will be completed by the end of the first quarter 2005.

Elemental bromine is the primary building block used to manufacture a wide variety of bromine compounds used in industry. Flame retardants, drilling fluids, agriculture, water purification, and pharmaceutical products are examples of applications for elemental bromine.

Great Lakes’ proprietary polybrominated styrene flame retardants are widely accepted as the leading solution for the cost effective flame retardancy of a wide range of engineering thermoplastic resins. These flame retardants are especially effective in applications based on high temperature nylon, such as electrical connectors, relays, and switches.

Great Lakes is the world’s leading producer of flame retardants with an aggressive commitment to technological innovation and product development. Offering the largest and broadest portfolio of flame retardants, Great Lakes products include bromine-, phosphorus-, and antimony-based flame retardants, other FR synergists and smoke suppressants. These products protect against fire in plastics for consumer applications such as automotive, electrical, building materials, and furnishings. For more information about these product lines please visit the Great Lakes Flame Retardants website at www.fr.greatlakes.com.

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