SANTIAGO, Chile, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) announced the payment of an interim dividend in the amount of US$0.37994 per share. At its meeting held yesterday, October 28, 2008, the Company's Board of Directors agreed to partially modify SQM's Dividend Policy in order to make this payment, which amounts to a total of approximately US$100 million and which will be charged to net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The interim dividend will be paid on November 21, 2008, in favor of those shareholders registered in the Company's Book of Shareholders during the fifth working day prior to the day of such payment. The pertinent amount will be paid in its equivalent in Chilean pesos, based on the 'Observed Dollar' rate that should be published by the Official Gazette on November 14, 2008.

Additionally, the Board of Directors agreed that the Dividend Policy for the Business Year 2009 that will be submitted to the next Annual Shareholders Meeting in April 2009 will also include the payment of an interim dividend. This interim dividend should be paid in November 2009 and will not exceed 30% of the net profits earned by the Company during the first nine months of 2009.

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, 56-2-4252485 / patricio.vargas@sqm.com
    Carolyn McKenzie, 56-2-4252074 / carolyn.mckenzie@sqm.com
    Carolina Rojas, 56-2-4252250 / carolina.rojas@sqm.com

SOURCE SQM