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By John Revill and Oliver Hirt

ZURICH, March 24 (Reuters) - Swiss construction chemicals maker Sika's SIK.S annual results could trend towards the lower end of its outlook due to turbulence unleashed by the Iran war, CEO Thomas Hasler said.

Sika, which makes additives used in projects like Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, guided in February for a 1-4% annual sales increase in local currencies and an EBITDA margin of 19.5% to 20% in 2026.

Hasler confirmed the outlook, but said results could be at the lower end of the range, as uncertainty around inflation, oil prices and the economic outlook has risen due to the war.

"I feel confident with our 2026 guidance, on top line growth and the bottom line, that we are still in safe waters," Hasler told Reuters in an interview.

"In February, we thought we would be rather on the mid to higher side of guidance, with the possibility of outperforming. Now, given the much increased uncertainty, it's probably more towards the mid to lower side of our expectations."

The Middle East conflict has pushed up oil prices, raising concerns that prolonged increases in energy ‌prices could fuel inflation and weigh on global economic growth.

Shares in Sika, which generates about 4% of its sales in the region, have fallen nearly 19% since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28. The European construction index .SXOP is down 13%.

Hasler said there had been no halt or cancellation of existing construction projects, but new developments could be delayed if the conflict continued.

Inflation was also a major concern, especially if central banks raised interest rates to contain it, he said.