UPDATE 1-Agfa Q3 beats forecasts, sees market bottoming out

* Q3 operating profit 43 mln euros vs 37 mln euro forecast

* Sees market bottoming, no major changes in rest of year

* Net debt 500 mln euros vs 569 mln euros at end-June

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BRUSSELS, Oct 30 (Reuters ) - Belgian imaging technology group Agfa-Gevaert (AGFB.BR) reported a 59 percent rise in third-quarter operating profit on Friday, helped by cost-cutting and lower input prices, and said the market was bottoming out.

The company, which specialises in hospital imaging systems and top-end printing systems for publishers and newspapers, said it did not expect any major changes in business conditions for the rest of the year after a crisis-driven decline.

Operating profit before exceptionals rose to 43 million euros ($63.37 million) in the third quarter, in spite of an 8.1 percent decrease in sales. A Reuters poll of six analysts had produced an average expectation of 37 million euros.

Average monthly sales and administration costs were reduced by 13.7 percent over the past year.

Agfa, whose businesses competes with General Electric (GE.N), Philips (PHG.AS) and Eastman Kodak EK.N, said activity levels and the market environment were unchanged from the second quarter for all three of its units.

Sales at Agfa's specialty products division have suffered from lower demand for some traditional film products, while revenues from the group's healthcare division have fallen because investors put off investments in IT and equipment.

Printing companies have also postponed investments in equipment and a slowdown in advertising has resulted in lower use of graphic film and printing plates, leading to slower sales at Agfa's graphics unit.

Net debt dropped to 500 million euros from 569 million at the end of June. That was a 350 million euro improvement from two years ago. ($1=.6785 Euro) (Reporting by Antonia van de Velde; editing by Simon Jessop)