IMERYS North America Ceramics Announces Energy Surcharge On All Products

Imerys North America Ceramics announces to its customers that we will be adjusting our current energy surcharge policy, subject to any provisions in individual contracts. The change is effective August 1, 2008 on all orders shipped on or after that date.

Natural gas prices have exceeded $13.00 per mmbtu, and diesel fuel prices are now in excess of $4.00 per gallon. As we’ve previously stated, natural gas, diesel fuel, and oil-based derivatives are critical cost components of our mining and processing efforts. Using the monthly NYMEX contract closing price for natural gas as the basis, we will implement a sliding scale for our energy surcharges. You can access the information for the monthly natural gas closing price at www.NYMEX.com.

Imerys Ceramics continues to be committed to investing in new products, technology, operations, and people to continue to be the market leader in mineral products by offering customers cost-effective and value-adding alternatives to numerous formulation materials and components.

IMERYS, a global leader in adding value to minerals, is the world’s leading producer of industrial ceramic minerals. The North America Ceramics portfolio includes Kaolin, Ball Clays, Feldspar, Mica and Sand products, which are used in a wide variety of demanding industrial & consumer applications such as tile, sanitaryware, tableware, fiberglass, building & construction, refractories, artware, rubber, adhesives, caulks, sealants and coatings. For more information concerning Imerys’ Ceramics, please visit www.imerys.com.