April 30 (Reuters) - Global grain trader

Archer-Daniels-Midland ( ADM ) beat market estimates for

first-quarter profit on Tuesday, helped by lower costs.

ADM said improved input and manufacturing costs, primarily

related to lower energy costs, led to an increase of 15 cents

per share in segment operating profit from a year earlier.

Oil and gas prices have declined compared to the peaks

reached in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

However, adjusted operating profit at ADM's Ag Services and

Oilseeds division, which includes soybean crushing and trading

businesses, fell to $864 million, compared with $1.21 billion a

year earlier.

Crush margins have declined in South America amid a rise in

processing capacity.

The Chicago-based company reported adjusted earnings of

$1.46 per share, for the three months ended March 31, compared

with analysts' average estimate of $1.36 per share.