3rd Quarter Trading Update

Cookson Group PLC
07 November 2003

7 November 2003


COOKSON GROUP THIRD QUARTER TRADING UPDATE

Cookson Group plc, the international materials technology company, today made
the following comments on trading for the third quarter of 2003 and the outlook
for the remainder of the year.

Activity levels in the Group's markets improved in September; this followed a
quiet start to the third quarter which was mainly due to routine summer holiday
shutdowns by many of the Group's customers in the USA and Europe.  This positive
momentum in September has been maintained in October.

In the Electronics division, sales for continuing operations of £140 million
were 4% lower than the same quarter last year, although sales improved
considerably in September, being up 2% over the previous year.  This positive
trend was also evident in October with sales for the month up on both last year
and September 2003.  Asia-Pacific continues to be the division's best performing
region and, in line with the wider electronics industry, activity began to
improve in the USA.  The division recorded an operating profit of £3 million for
the third quarter.  This represents a £2 million improvement over the same
period a year ago and arose largely as a result of previously announced cost
cutting measures.

The Assembly Materials and Chemistry sectors of the Electronics division
continued to operate profitably during the third quarter.  The benefits of the
licensing and distribution agreement with ATMI which was announced in May -
relating to the Chemistry sector's copper electrochemical deposition business -
are beginning to be realised.  In the Laminates sector, the impact of the
rationalisation programmes announced earlier in the year resulted in further
meaningful reductions in operating losses.  In August, the Laminates sector
broadened its product range through a licensing arrangement with GE for its
GETEK(R) laminates technology, the benefits of which will begin to become
evident in the fourth quarter.

As announced on 5 November, Speedline, the assembly equipment sector of the
Electronics division, was sold to KPS Special Situations Fund II LP for a total
consideration of approximately US$10 million (£6 million).  In the third quarter
of 2003, Speedline had sales of £16 million and generated an operating loss of
£4 million.

In the Ceramics division, sales of £170 million for the third quarter were 3%
lower than last year.  Despite this, operating profit of £11 million was £1
million higher than the same quarter a year ago, largely as a result of better
product mix and lower operating costs.  Global steel production was up 5% over
the same quarter last year but production was less robust in the division's
major steel related markets, the USA and the EU, although production levels
began to recover in the USA in October.  Other steel producing regions generally
performed well.  After a disappointing second quarter, the Glass sector began to
show signs of recovery in the third quarter.

In the Precious Metals division, a slower start than normal to the third quarter
resulted in sales of £75 million being 4% lower than last year.  However,
activity levels picked up in September as the division began to experience the
signs of the traditional seasonal pattern and sales for that month were 3%
higher than a year ago.  Further positive progress was also evidenced in
October.  Third quarter operating profit for the division of £2 million was £1
million lower than the same quarter a year ago.

The Group recorded profit before tax of £5 million in the third quarter of 2003
compared with a £1 million loss in the same quarter last year.  The improvement
arose from higher operating profit from continuing operations and from markedly
lower interest costs.  This, in turn, resulted in profit before tax for the
Group of £10 million for the nine months ended 30 September 2003 which is £23
million better than the £13 million loss incurred for the same period last year.

The outlook for the remainder of 2003 is that underlying trading conditions are
expected to remain essentially unchanged from those experienced in September and
October.  As a consequence - and in line with guidance given at the time of the
release of Cookson's interim results in July - profit before tax for the year is
expected to be in line with current market expectations.

The Company will hold a conference call for analysts and shareholders today at
8:00am which will be broadcast live at www.cooksongroup.co.uk.


Shareholder/analyst enquiries:

Cookson Group plc                                         Tel: [phone]

Stephen Howard, Group Chief Executive
Dennis Millard, Group Finance Director
Lisa Williams, IR Manager

Media enquiries:

Hogarth Partnership                                      Tel: [phone]

John Olsen


Notes:

(1)     All financial information is preliminary and unaudited.  Sales and
operating profit comparisons are at September 2003 exchange rates whereas that
for profit before tax is at reported exchange rates.  Operating profit and
profit before tax are stated before all exceptional items and goodwill
amortisation.

(2)     This announcement contains forward looking statements about Cookson.
Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable
assumptions, any such statements may be influenced by factors that could cause
actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those predicted.
These forward looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such
statements, certain of which are beyond the control of Cookson.

Cookson Group plc, 265 Strand, London WC2R 1DB
Tel: [phone]   Fax: [phone]
www.cooksongroup.co.uk


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