Germany’s BASF sees sales growth

Germany’s BASF, the world’s largest chemical maker by sales, dismissed analyst forecasts its business would shrink this year, saying sales and earnings would rise, driven by an economic rebound in the second half led by emerging markets. “We expect the global economy to pick up speed over the course of 2012 following a moderate start,” chief executive Kurt Bock said on Friday, adding his 2012 targets were ambitious. Uncertainties over government debt in Europe and the United States would pose a risk, while “positive impetus for the chemical industry will again mainly come from the emerging markets”, he added. Growth would largely be driven by higher chemical sales volumes and by the ramp-up of oil production in Libya, where BASF’s Wintershall unit had been the second-largest foreign oil firm before the civil war. The group also predicted growth next year and -in a sign of further optimism -said it would lift its annual dividend to 2.50 euros per share, up from 2.20 euros last year and more than the 2.39 euros expected by analysts. Analysts had expected a decline in sales of almost 5 per cent this year and operating earnings to drop 8 per cent, based on 2011 figures of 73.5 billion euros ($97.9 billion) and 8.4 billion euros, respectively. “The positive outlook for the global economy and BASF is surprising,” said DZ Bank analyst Peter Spengler. At 0845 GMT, BASF shares were up 2.4 per cent at 66.15 euros. Presenting full-year results for the first time after taking over in May, CEO Bock’s remarks contrasted with his predecessor Juergen Hambrecht’s notoriously conservative predictions. StarMine data show that in all of the six quarters before Hambrecht stepped down, BASF beat consensus net profit forecasts. Fourth quarter earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), adjusted for special items, fell 14 per cent to 1.51 billion euros, matching the average analyst estimate in a Reuters poll. Quarterly sales topped expectations. BASF added its EBIT this year would exceed its cost of capital before interest and tax in 2012 by a good margin. EBIT would be below last year’s figures in the first half but would rise above the year-earlier comparison in the second half, it predicted.