SQM REPORTS EARNINGS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2008

Santiago, Chile, August 12, 2008.- SQM reported today earnings for the first half of 2008 of US$190.5 million (US$0.72 per ADR), an increase of 102.8% with respect to the same period of 2007, when earnings totaled US$93.9 million (US$0.36 per ADR (1)). Operating income reached US$242.3 million (30.8% of revenues), 83.2% higher than the US$132.3 million (23.7% of revenues) recorded during the first six months of 2007. Revenues for the first half of 2008 totaled US$787.1 million, representing growth of 40.9% over the US$558.8 million reported in the first half of 2007.

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SQM PERU'S MANAGEMENT RECEIVES AWARD ONCE AGAIN For the fourth consecutive year, SQM has received the award of Peruvian Company of the Year, management 2006-2007 in the “Commerce” category, for its Peruvian branch, putting the golden touch on its 15th anniversary in this country.		SQM LAUNCHES THE SECOND STORIES OF LA PAMPA CONTEST Due to the success of the first contest in 2006, SQM launched their second running of the Stories of La Pampa Contest, an event that forms part of the company's actions to recover and disseminate its nitrate mining heritage.