IMERYS North America Ceramics Announces Price Increase On Ball Clay, Kaolin, Feldspar Products along with Prepared Ceramic Bodies.

ATLANTA -- Imerys North America Ceramics announces a product price increase from a minimum of 4% to a maximum of 8% per ton, dependent upon the grade, volume, and form, across its ball clay, kaolin, and feldspar product portfolio in the United States. In addition, prices of prepared ceramic slips and slurries will increase by 10-20% depending on the product. These increases will be effective January 1, 2007, or as current price agreements expire.

Imerys has aggressively pursued a multitude of cost reducing initiatives, yet continues to incur dramatic escalation in mining, raw materials, and other costs which have outpaced these efforts. Imerys is committed to investing in new products, technology, operations and people to continue to be the leader in products and service in the ceramics industry.

Imerys North America Ceramics is a leading supplier of ball clay, kaolin, and feldspar to ceramic and elastomeric industries in North America, Mexico, and South America. Our portfolio of products are used in a wide variety of ceramic applications such as sanitaryware, fiberglass, tiles, tableware, artware, and refractories.

For more information about Imerys North America Ceramics and its long-standing commitments to value-added mineral solutions, please visit www.k-tclay.com.