BASF on Wednesday raised its 2026 earnings forecast for the second time this year, guiding to adjusted core earnings (EBITDA) of €7.4-7.8 billion versus a July range of €6.9-7.7 billion.
Third-quarter sales reached €16.4 billion, roughly 5% above market expectations. Core earnings rose 15% year on year to €1.6 billion, with sales up 14%.
Volume growth contributed 2% while prices added 12%, indicating the improvement was driven mainly by pricing. BASF raised prices on some products by up to 30% in March as energy and raw material costs surged.
Disruption to Middle East supply, including closure of the Strait of Hormuz, created additional demand for European chemical suppliers. However, higher energy costs continue to pressure production economics.
BASF's agricultural business was an exception, with sales down 20% year on year, while Greater China sales rose about one-third with volumes up 20%. BASF plans to list its agricultural solutions business on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by mid-2027.
