NEW YORK, September 24 /PRNewswire/ --     ICIS Chemical Business has unveiled its list of the Top 100 global 
chemical companies based on 2006 sales, led by BASF, Dow Chemical and 
ExxonMobil.

Germany-based BASF once again took the top spot with $69bn in sales, up
23% from 2005, driven by acquisitions, growth and the strength of the Euro
versus the dollar. Dow came in second again with $49bn in sales. Overall Top
100 sales were up 6% in 2006.

2007 is set to be a year of big change for the Top 100.

"2007 is poised to be a banner year for global mergers and acquisitions, 
changing the face of the ICIS Top 100 global players," said Joseph Chang, 
global editor of ICIS Chemical Business. "Rarely has the chemical industry 
seen so much consolidation activity. As the industry globalizes, aggressive 
players are jockeying for leading market positions."

Cross-border acquisitions will only pick up going forward, as companies
seek to establish bases around the world.

Already, Saudi Arabia's SABIC has acquired US-based GE Plastics, 
Netherlands-based Basell is buying Lyondell in the US, US-based
PPG Industries is buying Dutch coatings firm SigmaKalon, and Dutch coatings
giant Akzo Nobel is in turn buying the UK's ICI.

"These deals will change the face of the leading players in the global
industry," said Chang.

Basell, owned by Len Blavatnik's industrial group Access Industries, is
poised to jump in the standings with a combined $41bn in annual sales in
petrochemicals, plastics and refining. Based on 2006 numbers, it would jump
from #19 to #4 behind ExxonMobil.

Akzo Nobel will become the largest coatings company in the world if its
acquisition of ICI goes through, followed by PPG Industries.

Asian companies are also jumping into the fray, with ChemChina buying
Rhodia's silicones business.

Ones to watch include SABIC and Hexion Specialty Chemicals, which will 
both move up sharply in the rankings in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

In July, Hexion beat out Basell in a bidding war for Huntsman, agreeing
to acquire the diversified chemical maker for $10.6bn in cash. Hexion faces
antitrust hurdles in epoxy resins, as well as the overall liquidity crunch in
the high-yield debt market in getting the deal done, but the company says it
already has firm financing commitments in place.

Upon completion of the deal, expected in 2008, Hexion's sales are
expected to catapult to around $14bn versus $5.2bn in 2006.

That would make it #18 worldwide based on 2006 numbers - a big leap from
its current #61 position.

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Notes to Editors:

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For further information please contact:

    Joseph S. Chang
    Global Editor
    ICIS Chemical Business
    360 Park Avenue South, 12th Floor
    New York, NY 10010
    +1-212-791-4224
    joseph.chang@icis.com
    http://www.icis.com