SQM Reports Preliminary Effects of Earthquake in Northern Chile on its Productive Facilities

SQM Reports Preliminary Effects ofSQM Reports Preliminary Effects of Earthquake in Northern Chile on its Productive Facilities PR Newswire SANTIAGO, Chile, April 2, 2014 Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-A, SQM-B) announced today its preliminary evaluation of the effects on the Company's productive facilities of the earthquake that occurred last night in Northern Chile. • There were no accidents or injuries involving personnel at SQM's productive facilities. • The earthquake was approximately 200 kilometers from our operations in Nueva Victoria, 300 kilometers from our operations in Maria Elena, 500 kilometers from our operations in the Salar de Atacama, 430 kilometers from our operations in the Salar del Carmen, and 260 kilometers from our operations in the port of Tocopilla. • Upon preliminary inspection, no structural damage was detected at our production facilities. • Nueva Victoria: Operations were suspended last night resulting from a loss of electricity. It was reestablished this morning, and we expect operations to resume later today after an operational check is completed on our main equipment. • Tocopilla: Operations were suspended last night resulting from a loss of electricity, and following a tsunami alert issued by the Chilean authorities. We expect that electricity will be reestablished today, and we expect to resume normal operations tomorrow.