Selective herbicides
Selective herbicides control specific weeds without harming crops. New products with unique customer benefits continue to be in high demand. Major brands CALLISTO® family, DUAL®/BICEP® MAGNUM, ENVOKE®, FUSILADE®MAX, TOPIK®.

Sales of selective herbicides were driven by the CALLISTO® range, which further extended market penetration in the US corn-belt augmented by the launch of LEXAR® in central and southern states. CALLISTO® also expanded rapidly in Europe. A decline in sales of DUAL®/ BICEP® MAGNUM in the USA was partly offset by growth in other regions. ENVOKE® made a significant contribution following its launch on cotton in the USA and generated further growth in Brazil. TOPIK® was particularly successful in southern Europe and in the expanding markets of Eastern Europe, where sales were up by more than 50 per cent.

Non-selective herbicides
Used to remove weeds before crop planting and from orchards, vineyards and plantations, non-selective herbicides improve productivity and help prevent soil erosion by reducing the need for hand weeding and mechanical tillage. Demand has been largely driven by increasing use of herbicide-tolerant crops, which can be safely treated with specific non-selective herbicides. Major brands GRAMOXONE®, TOUCHDOWN®.

GRAMOXONE sales increased strongly in China following planned channel inventory reduction in 2003 but were lower in Australia owing to drought. A strong recovery in TOUCHDOWN sales in the second half, with volume increases in NAFTA and Latin America, was partially offset by ongoing price pressure in the USA.

Fungicides
Fungicides are crucial to protect crop yield and quality by fighting fungal attack, and are typically used in programs or in combination to provide effective control while minimizing the emergence of fungal resistance. Major brands ACANTO®, AMISTAR®, BRAVO®, RIDOMIL GOLD®, SCORE®, TILT®, UNIX®. Fungicides registered strong growth across all regions. AMISTAR® sales were driven primarily by soybean rust in Brazil and increased demand on several crops in the USA. Growth in Europe reflected recovery from drought in 2003 and the launch of combination programs to combat cereal Septoria resistance, notably with BRAVO®.

Insecticides
Insecticides protect crops from potentially devastating pests that threaten yield and quality. Syngentas modern insecticide portfolio continues to benefit from the trend to replace older chemical technologies. Major brands ACTARA®, FORCE®, KARATE®, PROCLAIM®, VERTIMEC®.

ACTARA® continued to increase penetration in many markets. KARATE® sales benefited from the strength of Latin American markets and from high pest pressure in Europe. US sales of FORCE® declined due to a reduction in demand for soil-based corn rootworm insecticides in favor of seed treatment; this was partly offset by increased sales in Eastern Europe.

Field Crops
With advanced breeding capabilities in arable crops including corn, soybeans, sunflowers, oilseed rape, sugar beet and cereals, Syngenta is a leading producer of Field Crops Seeds. Major brands NK® corn, NK® oilseeds, HILLESHG® sugar beet.

Sales of NK® corn grew across all regions. Demand for NK® soybean was strong throughout the year, although reported sales were lower due to the alignment of fourth quarter sales closer to consumption in the USA for the coming season. In oilseeds, NK® sunflower performed well; sugar beet sales increased in buoyant Eastern European markets.