* Q1 net profit 67.8 million euros vs forecast 56 million
* EBITDA 151.2 million euros vs forecast 131 million
* Sees similar Q2 thanks to strong demand (Adds details)
MADRID, May 3 (Reuters) - Acerinox, the world's largest stainless steel maker, said demand should support upcoming earnings after strength in the United States drove a forecast-beating rise in first quarter net profit.
Net profit at Spain's Acerinox, which makes nearly 10 percent of the world's stainless steel, reached 67.8 million euros ($100.4 million), nearly seven times the 10.1 million reported for the same period last year and beating analyst forecasts for 56 million.
"Current demand allows us to be optimistic about the second quarter, when we expect similar results to the first," Acerinox said in a statement.
However, the company warned that future visibility on the current recovery was clouded by global political and economic uncertainty.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) more than doubled to 151.2 million euros in the first quarter to March from a year ago. ($1=.6753 Euro) (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Hans Peters)