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Coatings Segment Spurs Record Sales, Strong EPS Growth in PPG's Second Quarter

PITTSBURGH--July 15, 2004--PPG Industries reported today second quarter net income of $183 million, or $1.06 a share, which includes aftertax charges of $3 million, or 2 cents a share, reflecting the previously announced decision to begin expensing stock options in 2004, and $6 million, or 3 cents a share, to reflect the net increase in the current value of the company's obligation under its asbestos settlement agreement reported in May 2002. Sales for the second quarter of 2004 were $2.43 billion, a PPG record for any quarter.

That compares with second quarter 2003 net income of $152 million, or 89 cents a share, which includes aftertax charges of $7 million, or 4 cents a share, to reflect the net increase in the value of the company's obligation under the asbestos settlement, and $2 million, or 1 cent a share, related to restructuring. Sales for the quarter were $2.30 billion.

For the first six months of 2004, PPG recorded net income of $298 million, or $1.73 a share, which includes aftertax charges of $7 million, or 4 cents a share, to reflect expensing stock options in 2004, and $9 million, or 5 cents a share, to reflect the increase in the value of the company's obligation under the asbestos settlement. Sales for the first half of 2004 were $4.69 billion.

For the first six months of 2003, PPG recorded net income of $230 million, or $1.35 a share, which includes aftertax charges of $6 million, or 3 cents a share, for the cumulative effect of a required change in the accounting for asset retirement obligations; $10 million, or 6 cents a share, to reflect the net increase in the value of the company's obligation under the asbestos settlement; and $2 million, or 1 cent a share, for restructuring. Sales for the first half of 2003 were $4.38 billion.

"Our strong performance in the quarter reflects the benefits of a growing economy, and more important, the consistent application of strategies that have generated profitable growth in our coatings segment, the continued success of our optical products and our relentless focus on reducing costs," said Raymond W. LeBoeuf, chairman and chief executive officer. "Although we expect the overall economy to continue growing, there will not be consistency across all sectors of the economy. The overall expansion, however, continues."

Coatings sales were $1.35 billion, a PPG record for any quarter, up $105 million, or 8 percent. The growth was driven by stronger volumes in the architectural, industrial, automotive OEM, aerospace and automotive refinish businesses and the strengthening of foreign currencies, offset by slightly lower prices in the automotive OEM business. Operating earnings were $223 million, also a record for any quarter, up $18 million because of increased volumes and improved manufacturing efficiencies, which more than offset additional selling expenses in the architectural business, the impact of cost inflation and lower selling prices.

Glass sales increased $10 million, or 2 percent, as stronger volumes in the fiber glass, flat glass and automotive OEM businesses more than offset lower selling prices and automotive replacement glass volumes. Operating earnings were up $40 million as improved manufacturing efficiencies, increased volumes and higher other income more than offset lower selling prices and cost inflation.

Chemicals sales increased $10 million, or 2 percent, as higher volumes for commodity chemicals and optical products, and the strengthening of foreign currencies more than offset lower selling prices for commodity products. Operating earnings decreased $20 million because of higher energy costs. The impact of lower selling prices and additional selling and advertising expenses in the optical business were offset by the benefit of improved volumes and manufacturing efficiencies.

Beginning Jan. 1, PPG adopted the fair value method of recording stock-based compensation, as defined by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," for stock options awarded to employees after the date of adoption and for previously issued stock options that were not vested as of Jan. 1, 2005.

Additional Information

Recorded comments by William H. Hernandez, senior vice president and chief financial officer, regarding second quarter 2004 results may be heard by telephone at 412-434-2816 until 5 p.m. ET on Friday, July 23. The commentary will also be available online at Financial, Financial Commentary, on PPG's Web site (www.ppg.com). The commentary may include forward-looking statements or other material information. Additional information, including historical performance, is also available at Financial on PPG's Web site.

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements in this news release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements reflecting the company's current view with respect to future events and financial performance. These matters involve risks and uncertainties that could affect the company's operations, as discussed in PPG Industries' periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's forward-looking statements.

Among these factors are increasing price and product competition by foreign and domestic competitors, fluctuations in cost and availability of raw materials, the ability to maintain favorable supplier relationships and arrangements, economic and political conditions in international markets, the ability to penetrate existing, developing and emerging foreign and domestic markets, which also depends on economic and political conditions, foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates, and the unpredictability of possible future litigation, including litigation that could result if the asbestos settlement discussed in PPG's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission does not become effective. Further, it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, while the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.

Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the company's consolidated financial condition, operations or liquidity.

-- 22450.doc-

PPG INDUSTRIES AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
(All amounts in millions except per-
 share data)
                                      3 Months Ended  6 Months Ended
                                         June 30          June 30
                                       2004     2003    2004    2003
                                     -------  ------- ------- -------

Net sales                            $2,429   $2,304  $4,693  $4,375
Cost of sales                         1,522    1,445   2,963   2,787
------------------------------------ -------  ------- ------- -------
  GROSS PROFIT                          907      859   1,730   1,588
Other expenses (earnings):
  Selling & other                       498      461   1,001     910
  Depreciation                           90       92     180     182
  Interest                               25       28      48      56
  Amortization                            8        8      15      15
  Asbestos settlement - net              10       11      15      16
  Business restructuring                  -        3       -       4
  Other - net                           (22)      (7)    (25)     (9)
------------------------------------ -------  ------- ------- -------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES, MINORITY
  INTEREST & CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF
  ACCOUNTING CHANGE                     298      263     496     414
Income tax expense                       99       93     168     148
Minority interest                        16       18      30      30
------------------------------------ -------  ------- ------- -------
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF
  ACCOUNTING CHANGE                     183      152     298     236
Cumulative effect of accounting
 change, net of tax                       -        -       -      (6)
------------------------------------ -------  ------- ------- -------
NET INCOME                             $183     $152    $298    $230
==================================== =======  ======= ======= =======

Earnings per common share:
  Income before cumulative effect of
   accounting change                  $1.07    $0.90   $1.74   $1.39
  Cumulative effect of accounting
   change, net of tax                     -        -       -   (0.03)
------------------------------------ -------  ------- ------- -------
Earnings per common share:            $1.07    $0.90   $1.74   $1.36
==================================== =======  ======= ======= =======

Earnings per common share - assuming
 dilution:
  Income before cumulative effect of
   accounting change                  $1.06    $0.89   $1.73   $1.38
  Cumulative effect of accounting
   change, net of tax                     -        -       -   (0.03)
------------------------------------ -------  ------- ------- -------
Earnings per common share - assuming
 dilution:                            $1.06    $0.89   $1.73   $1.35
==================================== =======  ======= ======= =======

Average shares outstanding            171.6    169.7   171.4   169.6
==================================== =======  ======= ======= =======

Average shares outstanding -
 assuming dilution                    172.9    170.6   172.8   170.4
==================================== =======  ======= ======= =======


Effective January 1, 2004, the Company adopted the fair value method
of recording stock-based compensation, as defined by Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation," for stock options awarded to employees
after the date of adoption and for previously issued stock options
that were not vested as of January 1, 2004. This adoption increased
stock-based compensation expense by $3 million aftertax, or 2 cents a
share, and $7 million aftertax, or 4 cents a share, for the three and
six months ended June 30, 2004, respectively.

Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted SFAS No. 143,
"Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations." The adoption of this
standard resulted in a charge for the cumulative effect of an
accounting change of $6 million aftertax, or 3 cents a share, in the
first quarter of 2003. This standard requires the Company to recognize
asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred,
if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made.


CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET (unaudited)

                                                June 30    Dec. 31
                                                   2004       2003
                                               ---------- ----------
                                                    (millions)
Current assets:
   Cash & cash equivalents                          $583       $499
   Receivables - net                               1,845      1,631
   Inventories                                     1,025        997
   Other                                             437        410
---------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
        Total current assets                       3,890      3,537
Investments                                          278        265
Property less accumulated
 depreciation                                      2,453      2,566
Goodwill & identifiable intangible
 assets                                            1,651      1,652
Other assets                                         376        404
---------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
        TOTAL                                     $8,648     $8,424
============================================== ========== ==========

Current liabilities:
   Short-term debt & current portion
    of long-term debt                               $348       $327
   Asbestos settlement                               396        308
   Accounts payable & accrued
    liabilities                                    1,641      1,504
---------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
        Total current liabilities                  2,385      2,139
Long-term debt                                     1,295      1,339
Asbestos settlement                                  426        500
Deferred income taxes                                 97         88
Accumulated provisions                             1,269      1,310
Minority interest                                    116        137
Shareholders' equity                               3,060      2,911
---------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
        TOTAL                                     $8,648     $8,424
============================================== ========== ==========



BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (unaudited)

                                      3 Months Ended  6 Months Ended
                                          June 30         June 30
                                        2004    2003    2004    2003
                                      ------- ------- ------- -------
                                                 (millions)

Net sales
   Coatings                           $1,354  $1,249  $2,628  $2,373
   Glass                                 584     574   1,121   1,090
   Chemicals                             491     481     944     912
--------------------------------------------- ------- ------- -------
        TOTAL                         $2,429  $2,304  $4,693  $4,375
============================================= ======= ======= =======

Operating income
   Coatings (A)                         $223    $205    $408    $347
   Glass                                  68      28      91      34
   Chemicals (A)                          49      69      89     114
--------------------------------------------- ------- ------- -------
        TOTAL                            340     302     588     495
Interest - net                           (22)    (26)    (43)    (51)
Asbestos settlement - net                (10)    (11)    (15)    (16)
Compensation cost associated with
 stock options                            (4)      -     (11)      -
Other unallocated corporate expense -
 net (A)                                  (6)     (2)    (23)    (14)
--------------------------------------------- ------- ------- -------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES, MINORITY
   INTEREST & CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF
   ACCOUNTING CHANGE                    $298    $263    $496    $414
============================================= ======= ======= =======

(A) Prior to 2004, the pension and other postretirement benefit costs
    for U.S. salaried retirees were allocated to businesses based on
    their active U.S. salaried payroll dollars. In 2004, the Company
    revised its allocation method to more appropriately reflect these
    costs by business based on the salaried retiree's work location at
    retirement. For comparative purposes, segment operating income for
    2003 in the above table has been revised to reflect this change in
    allocation method, which resulted in an increase in our coatings
    segment operating income of approximately $3 million and $6
    million, a reduction in our chemicals segment operating income of
    approximately $1 million and $2 million and an increase in other
    unallocated corporate expense - net of approximately $2 million
    and $4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003,
    respectively.