EANS-Adhoc: K+S Aktiengesellschaft / Extraordinary weak demand for potash fertilizers continues / Clear reduction in expectations for 2009 sales volumes / Additional production curtailment in H2 / European prices reduced in line with the situation on overseas markets / Further significant reduction in revenues and earnings expected in 2009

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ad-hoc disclosure pursuant to section 15 of the WpHG transmitted by euro
adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely
responsible for the content of this announcement.
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17.06.2009

European agriculture exercised great restraint in the use of potash fertilizers
in the spring. Despite the stabilisation of agricultural prices, the demand for
fertilizers thus remained very low in Q2 as well. Given the autumn fertilization
due in several weeks time too, there is still no sign of any significant upturn
in demand in Europe. Until now, K+S expected that the demand for potash and
magnesium fertilizers would normalise in the second half of the year and that
total sales would be just under 6 million tonnes of goods.

However, in view of the extraordinarily weak sales, K+S has reduced its sales
expectations for 2009 to 4.0 to 4.5 million tonnes. Therefore, it has been
decided to reduce potash production in the second half of the year by up to 2
million tonnes, following a reduction of 2 million tonnes already implemented in
the first half of the year.

Moreover, it has in the meantime been noted on major overseas markets that a
price of potassium chloride of USD 735 - 750 per tonne is currently
unsustainable for large quantities. The indications rather point to a lower
price level. In view of this situation and the upcoming autumn fertilization,
K+S KALI GmbH implemented a corresponding reduction in the price of one tonne of
granulated potassium chloride in Europe today, lowering it from EUR 555 to EUR
435.

K+S has already forecast a tangible fall in revenues and a significant fall in
earnings for 2009. In view of these developments, further significant reductions
in revenues and earnings are to be expected in the current financial year. As
usual, a quantitative forecast of revenues and earnings will appear with the
release of the half-yearly figures on 13 August.

Further inquiry note:
Christian Herrmann
Telefon: +49 561 9301-1460
[email protected]

end of announcement euro adhoc
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emitter:      K+S Aktiengesellschaft
              Bertha-von-Suttner-Straße  7
              D-34131 Kassel
phone:        +49 (0)561 9301-1460
FAX:          +49 (0)561 9301 2425
mail:         [email protected]
WWW:          http://www.k-plus-s.com
sector:       Chemicals
ISIN:         DE0007162000
indexes:      DAX, Midcap Market Index, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX, Prime All
              Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, regulated dealing:
              Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Hannover, München 
language:     English

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