UPDATE 1-Albemarle first quarter profit falls 60 percent

* Q1 EPS 28 cents vs 67 cents

* Sales down 27 pct

* Shares close almost 1 pct lower

NEW YORK, April (Reuters) - Specialty chemicals maker Albemarle Corp (ALB.N) said on Monday first-quarter profit fell 60 percent, as its polymer additives sales into the consumer electronics, automotive and construction markets took a hit.

Net income in the quarter fell to $25.4 million, or 28 cents per share, compared with $63.3 million, or 67 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.

Sales fell 27 percent to $486.6 million.

Analysts, on average, had expected earnings of 28 cents a share on revenue of $560.95 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

The company's shares closed 20 cents lower at $27. (Reporting by Hezron Selvi; Editing by Andre Grenon)