Boliden's preliminary operating result for Q4 2005 totals SEK 1,575 million, an improvement of just over SEK 1,050 million on the corresponding period in 2004. The improved performance is mainly due to a combination of considerably stronger metal prices and improved mining production of copper. The preliminary operating result for 2005 as a whole totals SEK 3,059 million (SEK 1,831 m). The preliminary result after financial items amount to SEK 2,802 million (SEK 1,365 m) for the full year and to SEK 1,571 million (SEK 352 m) for Q4 2005.

The preliminary Q4 operating result is the best ever in the history of Boliden. Healthy and stable production and the strong metal-price trend have contributed to the record result. As the result considerably exceeds market expectations, we have decided to publish the result ahead of plan," says Jan Johansson, President and CEO of Boliden.

The preliminary Q4 result includes a stock profit on the process stocks of SEK 363 million. As of Q4, changes in the market valuations of currency options are also being reported as part of the operating result rather than, as previously, under net financial items. This change has had a negative impact on the Q4 operating result of SEK 93 million and thus a corresponding positive impact on net financial items.

Boliden's year-end result for 2005 is due to be published on Monday, 6th February 2006, one day earlier than previously announced.

For more information, please contact:

Jan Johansson, President and CEO, Boliden AB
Phone: +46 (0)8 610 1602 Mobile: +46 (0)70 555 02 02

Staffan Bennerdt, CFO, Boliden AB
Phone: +46 (0)8- 610 15 20 Mobile: +46 (0)70- 513 61 14

Ulf Söderström, Senior Vice President of Communication, Boliden AB
Phone: +46 (0)8 610 15 57 Mobile: +46 (0)70 618 95 95