THE world's leading chemical company BASF yesterday posted record sales for last year.

BASF said sales had smashed through the 50bn-euro mark for the first time in the company's history while earnings before interest and taxes climbed to a record high of more than 7.2bn euros (£4.8bn).

BASF, which operates a plant at Seal Sands, Teesside, said the outlook for this year was positive and it expects sales to be significantly higher.

Dr Jurgen Hambrecht, chairman of the German group, said sales had climbed to a record high of 53bn euros (£35.6bn).

"Our ambitious team has achieved this using its own strength. The economic tailwind also aided us," he said.

Looking ahead, Dr Hambrecht said: "This year, we want to further expand our position as the world's leading chemical company. We want to further increase BASF's value and again earn an attractive premium on our cost of capital."