LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, Belgium, May 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Albemarle Corporation (http://www.albemarle.com/ ) , a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of flame retardants, announced today that it will increase prices of MARTINAL(R) fine precipitated aluminum trihydrate flame retardants in Europe (including Central and Eastern Europe, Turkey, Russia), Middle East, Africa, India and Asia-Pacific by 10% on all MARTINAL(R) OL-104 based and low viscosity grades and 20% on all finer grades.

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This increase will be effective on all shipments after July 1, 2010 or as contracts allow.

MARTINAL(R) flame retardants are part of the company's mineral fire safety solutions within the polymer solutions business segment.

About Albemarle

Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a leading global developer, manufacturer, and marketer of highly-engineered specialty chemicals for consumer electronics, petroleum refining, utilities, packaging, construction, automotive/transportation, pharmaceuticals, crop protection, food-safety and custom chemistry services. The Company is committed to global sustainability and is advancing its eco-practices and solutions in its three business segments, Polymer Solutions (http://www.albemarle.com/Products_and_services/Polymer_additives/ ), Catalysts (http://www.albemarle.com/Products_and_services/Catalysts/ )and Fine Chemicals (http://www.albemarle.com/Products_and_services/Fine_chemicals/ ). Corporate Responsibility Magazine recently selected Albemarle to its prestigious 100 Best Corporate Citizens list for 2010. Albemarle employs approximately 4,000 people and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. To learn more, visit http://www.albemarle.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Albemarle Corporation's business that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

SOURCE: Albemarle Corporation

CONTACT: Media Contact: Vivien Kilian, +32-10-483992,Vivien.Kilian@albemarle.com; Investor Relations Contact: Sandra Rodriguez,+1-225-388-7654, Sandra.Rodriguez@albemarle.com, both of AlbemarleCorporation