Unassociated Document
UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
6-K
REPORT OF
FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT
TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Includes
a press release regarding the Company’s lithium price reduction, issued on
September 30, 2009.
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE
CHILE S.A.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
CHEMICAL AND MINING COMPANY
OF CHILE INC.
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
El Trovador 4285, Santiago,
Chile (562) 425-2000
(Address
and phone number of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under
cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F x Form 40-F o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in
this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant
to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes o No x
If "Yes"
is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82________
For
Immediate Release
SQM
Announces New Lithium Prices
Santiago, Chile, September 30, 2009.-
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock
Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) announced today:
Consistent
with its business strategy of world leadership based on low costs and abundant
high-quality natural resources, SQM has decided to implement a significant
reduction of its lithium price levels with the purpose of accelerating
demand recovery, creating incentives for research of new lithium uses, and
contributing to the sustainable long-term development of the lithium
market. Consequently, SQM announced that prices for lithium carbonate
and lithium hydroxide will be reduced by approximately 20% from current levels
for the renewal of all its supply contracts.
With the
purpose of ensuring lithium availability, SQM expanded its production capacity
to 40 thousand metric tons per year. SQM remains confident in the
future of the lithium industry and has taken all the necessary steps to further
expand its capacity if required.
The
lithium business represented approximately 8% of total revenues and
approximately 10% of SQM’s gross margin for the first six months of
2009. Total sales volumes reached, in this same period, approximately
9 thousand metric tons.
SQM is an
integrated producer and distributor of specialty plant nutrients, iodine and
lithium. Its products are based on the development of high quality natural
resources that allow the Company to be leader in costs, supported by a
specialized international network with sales in over 100
countries. SQM’s development strategy aims to maintain and strengthen
the Company’s world leadership in its three core businesses: Specialty Plant
Nutrition, Iodine and Lithium.
|
For
further information, contact:
|
Patricio
Vargas, 56-2-4252274 /patricio.vargas@sqm.com
|
| |
Mary
Laverty, 56-2-4252074 / mary.laverty@sqm.com |
| |
Carolina
Rojas, 56-2-4252250 / carolina.rojas@sqm.com |
For media
inquiries, contact: Fernanda Guerra, 56-2-4252027 / fernanda.guerra@sqm.com
Statements
in this press release concerning the Company’s business outlook, future economic
performances, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, or other financial
items, anticipated cost synergies and product or service line growth, together
with other statements that are not historical facts, are “forward-looking
statements” as that term is defined under Federal Securities Laws.
Any
forward-looking statements are estimates, reflecting the best judgment of SQM
based on currently available information and involve a number of risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those stated in such statements. Risks,
uncertainties, and factors that could affect the accuracy of such
forward-looking statements are identified in the public filing made with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and forward-looking statements should be
considered in light of those factors.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
SOCIEDAD
QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE S.A.
Conf: /s/ Ricardo Ramos
R.
Ricardo
Ramos R.
Chief
Financial Officer
Date:
October 5,
2009