AGM Statement

Weir Group PLC
10 May 2006

THE WEIR GROUP PLC

10 May 2006

Annual General Meeting - Q1 Trading Update

The following is the text of the statement to be delivered by the Chairman, 
Sir Robert Smith, at this year's AGM on Wednesday 10 May 2006 at 12 noon:


The level of orders booked by our continuing operations made good progress
against the first quarter of 2005, building confidence in the Group's outlook
for 2006.


Stronger first quarter sales in the Engineering Products businesses and the
ongoing benefits from restructuring in the UK Valves and Clear operations
against the comparatively weaker first half of 2005, support confidence in good
profit progress in 2006.


The Services Division has traded in line with expectations during the first
quarter of the year. Previously announced actions to improve the performance of
the UK and USA operations are proceeding to plan. We continue to expect an
improved full year result, with much of the progress expected in the second half
of the year.


The Defence, Nuclear and Gas Division continued to secure new business in the
first quarter, albeit below the same period in 2005 due to contract placement
delays. Further progress is expected in 2006 as a result of favourable patterns
of trade coupled to a good level of contract enquiries.


Overall we have started the year well against the comparably weaker first
quarter last year. This improved performance, together with ongoing operational
improvements and our restructured portfolio of businesses increases our
confidence in the outlook for 2006. We now expect profit before tax, goodwill
and exceptional items to be at the upper end of recent market estimates (see
note below 1).





1. The range of market estimates for profit before tax, goodwill and exceptionals
items for 2006, based on Reuters estimates, is £69.0m to £73.2m.






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