Compass Minerals International Increases Dividend by 11 Percent.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Compass Minerals International's (NYSE: CMP) board of directors has declared an 11-percent increase in its quarterly cash common stock dividend to $0.305 per share. The dividend is payable on March 15, 2006 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 1, 2006.

"For the year ended December 31, we improved our normal-winter operating results and enhanced the fundamental value of the company through disciplined execution of our operating and financial strategies. The decision to increase the dividend reflects our commitment to deliver value to our shareholders and our confidence in the future," said Michael E. Ducey, president and CEO of Compass Minerals International. Normal-winter operating results reflect the company's estimation of how it would have performed in 2005 had there been no benefit from unusually severe winter weather.

Mr. Ducey noted that the 2005-2006 winter season was in the average range in Compass's markets through January 31, with mild January weather offsetting the more-severe December weather. "The timing of winter weather is always unpredictable. Severe weather that would typically be spread between December and January was significantly skewed toward December this season," Mr. Ducey added. "We won't know until mid-April whether the entire season will fall into the average range because the last eight to ten weeks of the season play an important role in our results."

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Compass will hold its annual meeting of shareholders on May 11, 2006 at 9 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas for shareholders of record as of March 22, 2006.

About Compass Minerals International, Inc.

Based in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Compass is the second-leading salt producer in North America and the largest in the United Kingdom. The company operates eight production facilities, including the largest rock salt mine in the world in Goderich, Ontario. The company's product lines include salt for highway deicing, consumer deicing, water conditioning, consumer and industrial food preparation, agriculture and industrial applications. In addition, Compass is North America's leading producer of sulfate of potash, which is used in the production of specialty fertilizers for high-value crops and turf, and magnesium chloride, which is a premium deicing and dust control agent.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially. The differences could be caused by a number of factors including those factors identified in Compass Minerals International's annual report on form 10-k filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2005. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect future events or developments.