BASF second quarter of 2021 sales increased by 55.8 percent to €19.753 million vis-a-vis Q2 2020 sales of €12.680 million. 

This was driven by higher prices (+35 percent) and volumes (+28 percent); negative currency effects (–7 percent) had an offsetting effect. The average analyst estimates for BASF Group’s sales in the second quarter of 2021 amount to €17,157 million. 

In the second quarter of 2021, the operating business of BASF Group has been able to maintain the strong momentum since the fourth quarter of 2020. EBIT before special items is expected to amount to €2,355 million, a considerable increase compared with the prior-year quarter, which was weak due to the pandemic (Q2 2020: €226 million). 

The Chemicals, Materials and Industrial Solutions segments considerably exceeded average analyst estimates for EBIT before special items in the second quarter of 2021. EBIT before special items was slightly below analyst consensus in the Surface Technologies segment and significantly below average analyst estimates in the Agricultural Solutions and Nutrition & Care segments. 

BASF Group’s EBIT is expected to be €2,316 million in the second quarter of 2021, considerably above the figure for the prior-year quarter, which was weak due to the pandemic (Q2 2020: €59 million). EBIT in the second quarter of 2021 includes a preliminary disposal gain of a mid-double-digit million-euro amount from the sale of the pigments business. The analyst consensus for EBIT in the second quarter of 2021 is €1,929 million. 

Based on the strong business development in the first half of 2021 performance, BASF is increasing its outlook 2021 for sales and EBIT before special items. For the full year 2021, BASF Group now expects sales of €74 billion to €77 billion. 

EBIT before special items is now anticipated to reach between €7.0 billion and €7.5 billion in 2021 (previous outlook 2021: €5.0 billion to €5.8 billion; analyst consensus 2021: €6,299 million; full year 2020: €3,560 million). The considerably increased earnings expectations in the Chemicals and Materials segments are the main reason for the increase of the forecast for 2021.