(Archived) Praxair to Supply New SMIC Wafer Plant in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China, January 18, 2007 — Praxair China and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) have signed a contract for Praxair to supply industrial gases to SMIC's new FAB 8 facility in Shanghai, China.

Praxair will upgrade its existing facility and pipelines in the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park to supply ultra-high-purity nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen and helium to the semiconductor plant. Praxair will also build and operate the purification and gas-monitoring systems located on the site.

SMIC's FAB 8 facility is a significant expansion of its existing facilities in Shanghai and will be used for the production of 300mm wafers with 90nm technology. Praxair also supplies SMIC's existing fabs in Shanghai and its 12-inch wafer fab in Beijing. SMIC is the largest producer of semiconductor chip wafers in China and one of the leading integrated circuit manufacturers worldwide.

"We are proud to be chosen again by SMIC as its strategic supplier for its new state-of-the-art wafer facility. We have been working with SMIC since its inception in 2000 and are pleased to have been a major supplier during its growth as the preeminent semiconductor manufacturer in China," said Minda Ho, vice president, Praxair China.

Background

About Praxair China
Praxair (China) Investment Co., Ltd is a leading industrial air provider in China. It is headquartered in Shanghai and has 13 wholly owned companies and 11 joint ventures in China. More information on Praxair China is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.cn.

About Praxair
Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2005 sales of $7.7 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

About SMIC
SMIC (NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in China, providing integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing service at 0.35mm to 90nm and finer line technologies. Headquartered in Shanghai, SMIC operates three 200mm fabs in Shanghai and one in Tianjin, and one 300mm fab in Beijing, the first of its kind in China. SMIC is currently building its 2nd 12-inch wafer facility in Shanghai (FAB 8) using 90nm to provide services. More information on SMIC is available on the Internet at www.smics.com.