Oct 30 (Reuters) - Grain trader and processor Bunge

beat Wall Street expectations for third-quarter profit on

Wednesday, helped by higher sales volumes.

Bunge and rival Archer-Daniels-Midland ( ADM ) had expected

increased profitability due to a spike in crop sales by U.S.

farmers, which provided cheaper soybean ownership and helped

utilize any excess manufacturing capacity.

In July, Bunge had forecast an improvement in processing

margins and higher crop sales by farmers and raised its

full-year adjusted profit guidance.

Sales volumes improved in its Agribusiness as well as

Refined and Specialty Oils segments. However, core earnings in

both segments were down from the prior year, reflecting the

current global margin environment, the company said.

The upbeat results come as Bunge is waiting to close a

$34-billion merger with Glencore-backed Viterra. The deal, which

was announced last year and has been approved by Bunge's

shareholders, awaits regulatory approvals in key markets.

Bunge reiterated its full-year adjusted profit forecast

of $9.25 per share. Analysts had expected $9.43 per share.

The Chesterfield, Missouri-based company reported an

adjusted profit of $2.29 per share for the quarter ended Sept.

30, compared with analysts' estimate of $2.15 per share,

according to data compiled by LSEG.