Speciality chemicals group DSM on Tuesday announced an increase in turnover of 4% in the third quarter and an increase in operating profit of 27% to €342m compared with the year-earlier period.

The positive momentum comes despite the continuing challenges of the current economic climate, the company said in a statement.

Operating profit and turnover were slightly higher than analysts had forecast and DSM is on track to meet expectations of an operating profit of just under €1.35bn over the whole of 2013.