Exhibit 12 Union Carbide Corporation and Subsidiaries Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Million of dollars, except ratios) Quarter Ended March 31, 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 Income Income (loss) of consolidated companies before provision for income taxes - continuing operations 205 966 845 1,259 471 227 Add (deduct): Capitalized interest (11) (51) (45) (30) (12) (10) Preferred stock cash dividends of consolidated subsidiaries 0 (35) 0 0 0 0 Dividends from less than 50% owned companies carried at equity 0 0 0 0 0 0 UCC share of income (loss) before provision for income taxes of companies carried at equity (a) (2) 29 4 105 79 32 Amortization of capitalized interest 4 14 12 11 10 10 196 923 816 1,345 548 259 Fixed Charges Interest on long & short-term debt 27 79 76 89 80 70 Capitalized interest 11 51 45 30 12 10 Rental expense representative of an interest factor 5 18 18 22 22 33 Preferred stock cash dividends of consolidated subsidiaries 0 35 0 0 0 0 UCC share of fixed charges of companies carried at equity (a) 29 110 63 52 28 26 Total Fixed Charges 72 293 202 193 142 139 Total adjusted income available for payment of fixed charges 268 1,216 1,018 1,538 690 398 Ration of Earnings to Fixed Charges 3.7 4.2 5.0 8.0 4.9 2.9 <FN> (a) For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income of consolidated companies from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, before fixed charges, plus dividends from less than 50%-owned companies carried at equity and the registrant's share of pre-tax income of 50%-owned companies carried at equity, less net capitalized interest and preferred stock dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries. Fixed charges comprise interest on long-term and short-term debt, capitalized interest, the portion of rentals representative of an interest factor, preferred stock dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries and the registrant's share of fixed charges of 50%-owned companies carried at equity. The Company has a 45 percent equity investment in Equate Petrochemical Company. During 1998, 1997 and the last quarter of 1996, the Company severally guaranteed 45 percent of Equate's long-term debt and working capital financing needs. During the first three quarters of 1996, the Company severally guaranteed up to $225 million of Equate's interim debt. Interest associated with guarantees of outstanding borrowings totaled $17 million, $58 million and $13 million for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, and have been included, along with the Company's equity in Equate's pre-tax losses for the same periods ended, in the calculation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.