BASF raised its 2026 earnings guidance for the second time this year, forecasting adjusted core earnings of €7.4–7.8 billion, up from a July range of €6.9–7.7 billion, according to a report published Oct. 28, 2026.
Third-quarter sales reached €16.4 billion, about 5% above market expectations. Core earnings rose 15% year over year to €1.6 billion, with sales up 14%; prices contributed 12% and volumes 2%, indicating the improvement was mainly price-driven.
The company had raised prices on some products by up to 30% in March 2026 as energy and raw material costs climbed. Disruption to Middle East supply, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, created additional demand for European chemical suppliers.
The report noted that Europe's chemical industry still faces high energy costs and price pressure from Asian competitors. BASF's agricultural business saw sales fall 20% year over year, and the company plans to list that business on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by mid-2027. BASF's Greater China sales rose by roughly one-third in the quarter.
