Saudi SABIC posts first profit fall in two years

RIYADH, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), the world's largest chemicals company by market value, posted its first decline in quarterly net profit in more than two years on a slowdown in sales growth.

SABIC, which competes with Dow Chemicals and BASF (nyse: BF - news - people ), made 7.24 billion riyals ($1.93 billion) in the three months to September down, from 7.4 billion riyals a year earlier, it said in a statement posted on the bourse website on Saturday.

Analysts' forecasts for third-quarter profit ranged from 6.64 billion riyals to 7.27 billion riyals, according to a Reuters survey last month.

Earnings per share in the third quarter were 2.42 riyals versus 2.47 riyals a year earlier, based on Reuters calculations.

SABIC did not explain the drop and the company only said its operations were not affected by the global financial turmoil.

"There is no impact on SABIC's financial operations as a result of the existing financial crisis. Loans necessary to finance projects buildup and existing expansions have been completed in ample time prior to the start of the current crisis," Chief Executive Mohamed al-Mady said in the statement.

"However, the expected global recession may lead to a decline in demand for products in most of the international markets," he said.

The company signalled that a slowdown in the sales volume growth was behind the decrease in net profits. Annual sales volume growth was 3 percent for the nine months to Sept. 30, half its level for the six months to June 30, as reported by the firm in July.

Operating profit in the nine months to Sept. 30 rose 20 percent to 29.64 billion riyals after an "improvement in the prices of most core products", it said.

Net profit in the nine months to Sept. 30 rose 8 percent to 21.71 billion riyals, leading to an adjusted earnings per share of 7.24 riyals for that period against 6.72 riyals a year earlier, it added.

SABIC is bearing the financing cost of its $11.6 billion acquisition of GE Plastics. SABIC included a full quarter of GE Plastics earnings in its financials for first time in the three months to Dec. 31.

Crude prices are used as a benchmark for the pricing of naphtha, which is used to produce petrochemicals, as well as of other feedstocks. Oil prices have almost halved from record peaks set three months ago.

SABIC shares fell on Saturday by almost the maximum 10 percent limit on concerns the firm would post weak third-quarter earnings.

HSBC (nyse: HBC - news - people ) raised this week its SABIC's third-quarter earnings per share estimate to 2.61 riyals from 2.51 riyals.

Chemical producers were able to raise prices in the third quarter in an attempt to regain lost margins in the previous three months, despite an indicated slowdown in demand from the United States, HSBC said. (Editing by Swaha Pattanaik)