8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): October 4, 2005

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

1-10145 95-4160558

(Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1221 McKinney Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77010

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(713) 652-7200

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events

On October 4, 2005, Lyondell Chemical Company (the "Company") announced today that all of its Texas Gulf Coast ethylene, propylene oxide and refining facilities, as well as the majority of its derivative facilities, have safely resumed operations after having been shut down as a result of Hurricane Rita. The Company's October 4, 2005 press release regarding the matter is being filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits.

99.1 Press Release

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

By:/s/ Kerry A. Galvin

Name: Kerry A. Galvin

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

Date: October 4, 2005

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit

Number Description

99.1 Press Release

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

For information, contact:

Media -- David Harpole (713) 652-4125

Investors -- Doug Pike (713) 309-7141

Lyondell Gulf Coast Facilities Resume Operation Following Hurricane Rita

HOUSTON (October 4, 2005) -- Lyondell Chemical Company (NYSE: LYO) announced today that all of its Texas Gulf Coast ethylene, propylene oxide (PO) and refining facilities, as well as the majority of its derivative facilities, have safely resumed operations after having been shut down as a result of Hurricane Rita.

All of Lyondell's affected Gulf Coast ethylene plants had been restarted by last weekend. Ethylene operating rates across the company's system are at approximately 85 percent and are increasing.

All of the company's propylene oxide (PO) facilities are now operating, with the exception of one unit at Bayport, Texas, that has remained down for scheduled maintenance turnaround activity. Excluding the Bayport unit, operating rates across Lyondell's U.S. PO system are at approximately 85 percent and are expected to increase. Lyondell's North American PO production capacity represents 55 percent of its worldwide system capacity.

Lyondell's U.S. titanium dioxide (TiO₂) facilities were unaffected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Lyondell-Citgo Refining (LCR) resumed operation last week and currently is operating at approximately 50 percent of capacity. It is expected to continue at similar rates for several weeks due to equipment problems encountered during start-up.

# # #

ABOUT LYONDELL

Lyondell Chemical Company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's third-largest independent, publicly traded chemical company. Lyondell is a major global manufacturer of basic chemicals and derivatives including ethylene, propylene, titanium dioxide, styrene, polyethylene, propylene oxide and acetyls. It also is a significant producer of gasoline blending components. The company has a 58.75 percent interest in Lyondell-Citgo Refining LP, a refiner of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil. As a result of Lyondell's November 30, 2004, acquisition of Millennium Chemicals Inc., Millennium and Equistar Chemicals, LP are wholly owned subsidiaries of Lyondell. Lyondell is a global company operating on five continents and employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide.

###

SOURCE: Lyondell Chemical Company