BRUSSELS: Belgian chemicals group Solvay on Wednesday reported better-than-expected core profit in the first quarter, aided by a weaker euro and higher sales prices, adding that it expected growth to continue in 2015.

Core profit, adjusted for one-off items, (REBITDA) rose 12 percent in the first quarter to 502 million euros ($563.90 million), well above the 459 million expected in a Reuters poll of five analysts.

Solvay said it expected solid core profit growth for 2015 as a whole.

Before today's announcement, analysts on average expected 2015 REBITDA to increase by 15.3 percent, following an 11 percent increase in 2014.

Copyright Reuters, 2015