Dow forecasts quarterly core profit slightly above estimates, warns of Middle East uncertainty

By Pooja Menon

July 23 (Reuters) - Dow Inc ‌forecast third-quarter core ​profit ​slightly above Wall Street expectations, while warning that the quarter ahead remains difficult to predict as the U.S.-Iran conflict continues to create ‌uncertainty across several end markets.

Shares of the chemicals maker were down ⁠1.3% in afternoon trading.

The near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route, disrupted ‌oil and petrochemical flows, tightening global ‌chemicals supply and increasing prices of plastics and polymers.

Dow said in April the conflict could delay or cancel expansion plans while increasing pressure to rationalize ​capacity as companies reassess investments amid heightened uncertainty and supply-chain disruptions.

The company has been reviewing non-producing assets across its portfolio, including power and steam facilities ⁠and pipelines, as the chemical industry grapples with higher feedstock and energy costs amid weak demand in key ​markets.

CEO Karen S. Carter said the company expects to generate about $200 million in additional benefits from the "Transform to Outperform" program this year, ​taking potential gains to more than $1.3 billion ‌for the year.

Dow forecast current-quarter core earnings of about $1.75 billion, slightly above analysts' average estimate of $1.74 billion, according to data compiled ⁠by LSEG.

It said the third quarter is expected to reflect the impact of price declines in June in the Americas, higher maintenance at its U.S. Gulf Coast assets and seasonal ⁠weakness in coatings and construction markets.

These pressures are expected to be partly offset by its cost-cutting ​program, which should provide about $130 million in core profit support.

"For July, we judge net tension in the U.S. contract price as remaining to the downside, although recent increases in Brent ‌crude oil prices mitigate risk perhaps," Vertical Research Partners analyst Kevin McCarthy said.

Quarterly net sales from its packaging and specialty plastics ‌segment rose 27% to $6.4 billion from a year earlier, driven by higher polyethylene prices.

The ⁠Michigan-based company reported an adjusted profit ‌of $1.44 per share for ​the quarter ended June 30, beating analysts' average estimate of $1.28 per share.

(Reporting by Pooja Menon in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das and ‌Sriraj Kalluvila)

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