By Ludwig Burger FRANKFURT (Reuters) -German chemicals giant BASF on Friday posted a 45% drop in 2023 operating earnings, worse than both the market and company anticipated, adding to the challenges the new CEO will face when he takes the reins in April. In October, BASF ramped up cost cuts in Europe and scaled back investments as well as earnings projections, citing an “extremely uncertain” global economic outlook. Operating income before special items fell to 3.81 billion euros ($4.15 billion), below the 4 billion euros at the bottom end of BASF’s target range, as lower sales and prices over…