Adds comment on potential JV restart in paragraph 6, shares in paragraph 7

By Olivier Cherfan

May 7 (Reuters) - Belgian chemicals group Solvay SOLB.BR said on Thursday it was passing higher energy and transport costs on to customers as the Iran war hit the sector, joining peers seeking to cushion the impact of the conflict.

Solvay said it is assessing how the temporary shutdown of its Saudi Arabia-based peroxides joint venture would affect its business in the second quarter, adding that the overall impact of the conflict remains limited.

The comments accompanied first-quarter results showing core profit fell 12.4% to 219 million euros ($257.37 million), broadly in line with Vara Research's consensus of 220 million euros.

Solvay makes less than 5% of its sales in the Middle East but production at its 50-50 Saudi Hydrogen Peroxide joint venture with Sadara Chemical Company, itself a joint venture of Saudi Aramco 2223.SE and Dow DOW.N, has been halted since mid-March.

"This impact on the second quarter is still being assessed and will depend on when the platform activity will resume," the company said.

The site, which has a capacity of more than 300,000 metric tons a year, is expected to restart in the next few months, Solvay CEO Philippe Kehren told reporters after presenting results.

Solvay shares SOLB.F fell 8.8% following the news to the bottom of France's SBF 120 index .SBF120.

($1 = 0.8509 euros)