Interim Management Statement

Johnson Matthey PLC
24 July 2007







                For release at 7.00 am on Tuesday 24th July 2007


                              Johnson Matthey Plc

                          Interim Management Statement





Commenting on current trading at the Annual General Meeting to be held at 12.00
noon today, Sir John Banham, Chairman of Johnson Matthey, will provide the
following statement:



 'Johnson Matthey has made a good start to the new financial year.  In the first
quarter to 30th June 2007 sales for the continuing businesses grew by 9%.  Sales
excluding the value of precious metals increased by 28%, with most of the growth
in Environmental Technologies Division.  Profit before tax for the continuing
businesses was up 12% compared with the same period last year.



Our new Environmental Technologies Division achieved strong sales growth in the
quarter.  Emission Control Technologies (ECT) was well ahead, with good demand
for heavy duty diesel catalysts for new vehicles in both Europe and North
America following the introduction of new emission standards last year.  Sales
of catalysed soot filters for light duty diesel vehicles were also well up.
Process Technologies' sales were ahead of expectations but slightly down on last
year's very strong first quarter.  Orders for the second quarter are encouraging
and the business should achieve good growth for the half year.



On 4th May 2007 we sold our Hong Kong gold refinery which reduced sales growth
in Precious Metal Products Division but operating profit for the division for
the first quarter was well ahead of last year.  Platinum group metal prices were
stronger than in the same period last year but were less volatile.  The
division's manufacturing businesses continued to perform very well.



Fine Chemicals & Catalysts Division made an encouraging start to the year with
good sales of catalysts and continued recovery in our US Pharmaceutical
Materials business.  In our Research Chemicals business, catalogue sales were
well up on last year with a good contribution from our business in China.



We spent £10 million on share buy-backs (net of proceeds of employee share
option exercises) in the quarter and have continued to purchase shares in July.
Borrowings at 30th June 2007 were similar to the level at the end of the last
financial year despite an increase in working capital to support sales growth.
With the payment of the final dividend on 7th August 2007 and further investment
to support the expansion of Environmental Technologies Division we expect net
debt to rise in the second quarter.



The outlook for the half year is encouraging with growth in profit before tax in
the second quarter likely to be similar to that in the first.'





Enquiries:




Ian Godwin                         Director, IR and Corporate Communications           020 7269 8410
John Sheldrick                     Group Finance Director                              020 7269 8408
Howard Lee                         The HeadLand Consultancy                            020 7367 5225
Laura Hickman                      The HeadLand Consultancy                            020 7367 5227



www.matthey.com






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