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                                                                Sarah McCoy
                                                                804.788.6091
                                                                Michael Whitlow
                                                                804.788.6091

          Albemarle Corporation To Acquire Phosphorus Flame Retardants
                           in Agreement with Rhodia SA

Richmond, Va., June 17, 2003 - Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) and Rhodia SA
(Paris) have reached an agreement for Albemarle to acquire Rhodia's global
organo-phosphorus and ammonium polyphosphate flame retardants business for
applications in rigid and flexible polyurethane foams. Annual global revenue for
these products is approximately $65 million.

The transaction, which is expected to be completed in the next three to six
weeks, is subject to regulatory approvals.

As part of the transaction, Albemarle will acquire Rhodia's production site in
Avonmouth, United Kingdom. Rhodia also will supply Albemarle with Antiblaze(TM)
flame retardants and intermediates from its plants in Charleston, S.C., and
Oldbury and Widnes in the United Kingdom.

"This acquisition significantly strengthens Albemarle's position in polyurethane
foam applications," said Luc Van Muylem, global business director for flame
retardants at Albemarle. "The Antiblaze flame retardant product portfolio allows
Albemarle to be a significant provider of flame retardants for the polyurethane
foam industry as our customers are developing products to meet the challenges of
safer furniture and other products. It also complements the NcendX(TM)
phosphorus-based flame retardants capability Albemarle has developed for
thermoplastic applications, such as electronic enclosures."

Albemarle has established global leadership positions in bromine-based and
mineral flame retardants. "With the addition of the new phosphorus capabilities,
our offering is unmatched by anyone in the industry. We are combining
versatility of our product and technology portfolio, with excellent geographical
positioning and scale of our production bases, as well as strong global
technical application support capabilities," said Van Muylem.

Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a leading
producer of specialty chemicals for consumer electronics; pharmaceuticals;
agricultural, automotive and industrial products; and construction and packaging
materials. The company's two business segments, Polymer Chemicals and Fine
Chemicals - which includes custom manufacturing services for the life sciences
market - serve customers in more than 80 countries, generating revenue of
approximately $1 billion. To learn more about the Company, go to
www.Albemarle.com