Rewrites lead, adds CEO comment in paragraph 4, cost cutting program in paragraph 5, specifies outlook in paragraph 6

By Ozan Ergenay and Marta Frackowiak

May 13 (Reuters) - German chemicals distributor Brenntag BNRGn.DE beat quarterly core profit estimates on Wednesday, supported by price hikes and persistent efforts to cut costs amid a challenging market environment.

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted fuel and feed-stock markets, impacting global supply chains and driving up prices for the energy‑intensive chemical industry.

To offset higher costs, chemical companies including Brenntag, Wacker Chemie WCHG.DE, Lanxess LXSG.DE, BASF BASFn.DE, Evonik EVKn.DE, EMS Chemie EMSN.S and Sika SIKA.S have raised prices, in some cases multiple times across different products.

Brenntag CEO Jens Birgersson said in a statement the group's flatter and more agile organizational structure has proved its worth as the firm navigates supply‑chain disruptions stemming from the Middle East crisis.

The company's cost-cutting program delivered 27 million euros ($31.7 million) in savings in the first quarter, keeping it on track to achieve between 200 million euros and 250 million savings by 2027, the CEO said.

Brenntag confirmed its 2026 earnings forecast on the solid performance year-to-date and supported by most recent positive pricing dynamics. The chemicals distributor projects operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to be between 1.15 billion and 1.35 billion euros for 2026.

Operating EBITDA declined to 217 million euros for the first quarter, down from 264.3 million a year earlier, but above analysts' average forecast of 208.8 million euros in a poll by Vara Research.

($1 = 0.8523 euros)