By Kim Richters

Germany's BASF SE (BAS.XE) said Thursday that third-quarter net profit and sales fell, particularly due to lower prices in its materials and chemicals businesses.

The company said net profit fell to 911 million euros ($1.01 billion) from EUR1.2 billion a year earlier.

Sales fell 2% to EUR15.23 billion from EUR15.61 billion and earnings before interest and taxes before special items dropped 24% to EUR1.12 billion from EUR1.47 billion, the company said.

While BASF's net profit dropped more than 20%, the chemical maker beat analysts expectations of EUR607 million, according to a consensus forecast provided by the company.

Analysts had the chemical maker's sales at EUR15.17 billion and EBIT before special items at EUR1.05 billion, according to the consensus.

BASF backed its outlook for the year, which the company previously cut, citing U.S.-China trade frictions and sluggish demand in the auto market. It forecasts a slight decline in sales and a drop of up to 30% in EBIT before special items.

The company is in the midst of an overhaul aimed at boosting profitability, which includes reducing its workforce. As of the end of September, around 1,800 positions had been reduced globally, it said.

Write to Kim Richters at kim.richters@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 24, 2019 01:44 ET (05:44 GMT)

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