PRESS RELEASE

Detrex Corporation Reports Profit for 2006

Southfield, Michigan – March 9, 2007 - Detrex Corporation (DTRX.PK), a diversified manufacturer of PVC and CPVC pipe, duct and shapes and specialty chemicals including lubricant additives and high purity hydrochloric acid, today announced 2006 full year pre-tax income from continuing operations of $2,340,350, compared to $2,004,949 in 2005. This income reflects achievement of excellent operating results partially offset by charges to income to increase reserves for discharging legacy liabilities.

Both of the company’s business units, Harvel Plastics, Inc. and The Elco Corporation performed very well during the year generating combined sales of $97.0 million. This represents more than an 18% increase over the 2005 revenues of $81.9 million. The operating margin at the business unit level was $10.7 million, an increase of $2.7 million, or 34% over the solid performance achieved in 2005. The bulk of this growth was generated at Harvel, which achieved a 28% increase in sales compared to the prior year. Early in the year, performance received a boost from the 2005 hurricane related disruptions; as the year progressed market share gains were consolidated and Harvel finished the year with a strong fourth quarter. Elco generated solid performance again in 2006 with earnings remaining at the record level achieved in 2005 on slightly lower sales volume. Profitability remained at prior year levels, in spite of reduced volume and escalating raw material costs, largely as the result of cost reduction actions taken early in the year coupled with price increases where appropriate.

The company is currently moving forward with environmental remediation projects and expects to have made cash outlays for these legacy liabilities of approximately $5.2 million in the combined 2006 and 2007 time period. Most of the large environmental projects are peaking in activity at this time and the company expects a gradual decline in activity levels in subsequent years. While the high level of activity and progress brings more clarity and certainty to the eventual outcome of these projects, it has
also required management to revise cost estimates. Based on late fourth quarter developments related to Ashtabula environmental projects, the company determined that the environmental reserve should be increased by $3.8 million to provide for the estimated costs of the following: additional source control activities for the Ashtabula plant including installation and operation of an extraction well system based on a well design just approved by the EPA; increased costs for remediation of a third party landfill; an estimate of the eventual settlement amount related to the Ashtabula River dredging project. This additional reserve amount brings the total reserve for all environmental matters to $7.9 million at year end which represents management’s best estimate for the cost to discharge remaining environmental liabilities.

The 2006 net income including discontinued operations was $1,063,321, or $0.67 per basic share, compared to $859,549, or $0.54 per basic share, in the prior year. These amounts reflect provisions for environmental costs of $3,800,000 made in 2006 and $1,765,000 that was made in 2005. In addition, in 2006 after-tax charges of $450,878 were made to discontinued operations for matters related to holding costs, workers’ compensation expense, and environmental matters such as a dispute with a former customer. In 2005, a charge of $162,000 was made to discontinued operations.

The strong operating performance in 2006 made it possible to fund a combined $10 million in cash outlays for capital expenditures, environmental remediation and pension funding with only a net $1 million increase in company debt. In 2007 outlays are expected to be large but not as high as in 2006. Nonetheless, continued operational performance is important to the company’s ability to meet these obligations.

Commenting on the Company’s results for 2006, President and CEO Tom Mark said, “In 2006 we achieved outstanding operational performance offset by a provision to increase reserves for estimated costs to complete several environmental projects. We believe that we are making significant progress in our plan for delivering shareholder value as we invest in, and grow, our businesses while moving towards our goal of working off the burden that the legacy liabilities have placed on the value of the company.”

Statements included in this press release that are not historical in nature are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “1995 Act”). The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “guidance,” “target” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Certain risks and uncertainties are identified from time to time in the Company’s reports. Some factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements include: market conditions, environmental remediation costs, pension expense and funding requirements, liquidation value of assets, and marketability of real estate and the market value and future liquidity of Detrex stock. The Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the 1995 Act.