Product Line Performance
Crop Protection |
Seeds |
Crop Protection
Selective Herbicides
Selective herbicides control specific weeds and protect the crops. They represent the highest share of Syngenta Crop Protection sales. Major selective herbicide brands from Syngenta include: AXIAL®, CALLISTO® family, DUAL®/BICEP® MAGNUM, ENVOKE®, FUSILADE® MAX and TOPIK®.
In 2007, sales of selective herbicides increased by 8 percent at constant exchange rates (CER) to $2.0 billion. Increased corn acreage was accompanied by double-digit sales growth in all major products. In the USA, growers seeking to maximize yield increasingly recognized the importance of treatment programs including selective herbicides.
Non-Selective Herbicides
Non-selective herbicides are applied to control weeds before crop planting. They are also used to remove unwanted vegetation from vineyards, orchards and plantations. Non-selective herbicides contribute to sustainable agriculture through preventing soil erosion by reducing the need for mechanical tillage and hand weeding. Major non-selective herbicide brands from Syngenta include GRAMOXONE® and TOUCHDOWN®.
In 2007, non-selective herbicide sales rose 21 percent (CER) to $902 million. Sales of TOUCHDOWN®, now marketed in a comprehensive product range, increased strongly in response to higher glyphosate-tolerant acres in the Americas. Higher demand combined with tight supply resulted in pricing improvements. GRAMOXONE® also showed growth with strong demand in Asia more than offsetting the phasing-out of the product in Europe.
Fungicides
Fungicides prevent and fight fungal attacks on crops. They play a crucial role to protect crop quality, health and yield. Major brands from Syngenta include AMISTAR®, BRAVO®, REVUS®, RIDOMIL GOLD®, SCORE®, TILT® and UNIX®.
Fungicide sales in 2007 climbed 12 percent (CER) to $2 billion. AMISTAR® showed exceptional growth notably in Latin America, with higher soybean acreage, increased soybean rust pressure and strong demand from wheat growers. In the USA, the AMISTAR® range progressed with the development of a new market segment to prevent disease in corn. There was good growth in other fungicides including BRAVO®, now widely used as a resistance breaker in European cereals. REVUS®, a new fungicide for use in potatoes, was successfully launched in the UK and Korea.
Insecticides
Insecticides provide protection from pests that threaten crop quality and yield. This is particularly important in fruit and vegetables. Major insecticide brands from Syngenta include ACTARA®, FORCE®, KARATE®, PROCLAIM® and VERTIMEC®.
Insecticide sales were up 7 percent (CER) to $1.2 billion in 2007. Strong demand for cereals in Europe led to good growth in sales of KARATE®, ACTARA® continued to expand, notably in Latin America. A decline in FORCE® sales in the USA, as a result of increased rootworm trait penetration, was partly offset by strong demand in Eastern Europe. US sales were also adversely affected by a sharp decline in cotton acreage.
Professional Products
Many crop protection products also offer important benefits in areas beyond agriculture. Professional Products includes Seed Care - the coating of seeds with crop protection products - as well as a competitive range of applications in the lawn, garden and home care markets. Major brands from Syngenta include AVICTA®, CRUISER®, DIVIDEND®, HERITAGE® and MAXIM®.
Sales for Professional Products rose 10 percent (CER) in 2007 and reached $1.1 billion. Growth reflects the full year consolidation of Fafard in the Lawn and Garden segment and a continuing strong performance in Seed Care. CRUISER® showed excellent growth in all regions, reflecting increased penetration and treatment intensity in corn and soybean; new registrations in Latin America; higher demand on oilseed rape and cereals in Europe, and new launches in Asia Pacific. Sales of AVICTA® in its second year were up 50 percent, despite lower US cotton acreage, as growers recognized its superior performance in nematode control.
Seeds
Corn and Soybean
Major Syngenta brands for corn and soybean include NK®, GARST® and GOLDEN HARVEST®.
Corn and soybean sales increased 12 percent (CER) to $893 million in 2007. Sales of corn were strong globally reflecting high corn prices and acreage expansion, particularly in the USA.
Growth accelerated in the second half with share gains in a buoyant Latin American market. In the USA final sales of seeds containing non-proprietary traits had a one-off positive impact on the fourth quarter. The good corn performance was partly offset by lower soybean sales as a result of the decline in US soybean acreage.
Diverse Field Crops
Diverse Field Crops include sugar beet, sunflower and oilseed rape. Major brands from Syngenta include NK® oilseeds and HILLESHÖG® sugar beet.
Sales for Diverse Field Crops grew 7 percent (CER) to $351 million in 2007. All crops showed strong growth in Eastern Europe. Sugar beet growth reflects the successful positioning of the HILLESHÖG® business to take account of EU subsidy reform. Sunflower and oilseed rape are both benefiting from demand for healthy oils as well as for biodiesel.
Vegetables and Flowers
Syngenta is world leader in flower seeds and the second largest provider of vegetables seeds. Major brands from Syngenta are S&G® Vegetables, ROGERS® Vegetables and S&G® Flowers.
In 2007, Vegetables and Flowers sales rose 14 percent (CER) to $774 million. Growth in Vegetables reflected continuing strong consumer demand and share gain, with a $13 million contribution from the consolidation of Emergent Genetics and Zeraim Gedera. Sales in Latin America and Asia Pacific continued to expand rapidly. Sales of Branded Fresh Produce in the USA rose by over 30 percent.
The acquisition of Fischer in Flowers contributed $24 million to sales growth. Underlying performance improved in both Europe and NAFTA.
