The first half of Johnson Matthey's current financial year ends on 30th September 2007 and its interim results for the half year will be announced on 28th November 2007. Prior to entering its closed period the company is today issuing the following update on current trading:

"Trading in the first half of Johnson Matthey's financial year has been in line with expectations. The encouraging start made in the first quarter has continued in the second. Our new Environmental Technologies Division has achieved strong sales growth with Emission Control Technologies (ECT) well ahead. Sales of heavy duty diesel catalysts for new vehicles in both Europe and North America have increased substantially following the introduction of new emission standards last year. Process Technologies has also seen good demand with continued growth in sales to China.

Precious Metal Products Division has benefited from the favourable trading conditions for platinum group metals and good demand for manufactured products and refining services. Fine Chemicals & Catalysts Division has achieved good sales growth with demand for both fine chemicals and catalysts ahead of last year.

The segmental results for the first half of last year, restated for the new divisions announced in June, are shown below."

Comparative Information for Prior Year Restated for New Divisions

	Half year to 30th September 2006						Year to 31st March 2007
	Sales to external customers		External sales excluding precious metals		Operating profit		Sales to external customers		External sales excluding precious metals		Operating profit
	£ million		£ million		£ million		£ million		£ million		£ million
Environmental Technologies	858.1		392.1		57.7		1,864.3		896.2		120.1
Precious Metal Products	1,860.5		134.3		37.2		3,824.4		290.0		85.3
Fine Chemicals & Catalysts	203.4		127.1		30.1		463.0		268.0		64.2
Corporate	-		-		(8.4)		-		-		(17.2)
Continuing Businesses	2,922.0		653.5		116.6		6,151.7		1,454.2		252.4

Enquiries:

Johnson Matthey

The HeadLand Consultancy

Howard Lee
020 7367 5225

Laura Hickman
020 7367 5227