Syngenta Third Quarter 2008 sales: Strong growth in all regions

BASEL, Switzerland, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sales in the third
quarter of 2008 increased by 28 percent at constant exchange rates (CER).
Reported sales were 33 percent higher at $2.3 billion. In the first nine
months of the year sales were up 22 percent (CER) to $9.6 billion.
In Crop Protection third quarter sales were 26 percent higher (CER), with
volume growth of 12 percent and price realization, including glyphosate, ahead
of target at 14 percent. In NAFTA, the growth rate increased significantly
driven by the expansion of the corn fungicide market and strong herbicide
demand. In Latin America there was a good start to the season with a further
acreage increase and ongoing investment in both soybean and corn. Europe saw
sustained growth in herbicides and seed care; sales in Eastern Europe were
almost 50 percent higher reflecting the drive to increase productivity. Asia
Pacific saw growth across the emerging markets and improved trading in
Australia.
Growth by product line was broad-based. The most notable performances were
from non-selective herbicides, led by price gains in TOUCHDOWN(R); fungicides,
with strong demand for AMISTAR(R) in the USA and Brazil; and seed care, where
technology adoption continues in both developed and emerging markets, led by
CRUISER(R). Combined sales of new products, defined as those launched since
2006, reached $242 million in the first nine months (+87 percent). The largest
contribution came from the cereal herbicide AXIAL(R), with good progress also
in REVUS(R) and the successful launch of DURIVO(R).
Seeds sales increased by 41 percent (CER) in the quarter. Sales of corn
and soybean more than doubled, with lower returns in the USA and excellent
growth in Brazil, where both crops benefited from expanding demand and an
enhanced offer.
All regions showed strong growth in vegetables with emerging markets,
notably Asia, playing an increasingly important role.
Mike Mack, CEO, said: "The sales figures we have presented today attest to
the strength of our business in a turbulent global environment. The
fundamental drivers for agriculture remain unchanged, with rising food and
feed demand inevitably requiring increased use of agricultural technology in a
context of limited land availability. Our confidence in Syngenta's near term
as well as its longer term performance allows us to reaffirm our target for
earnings per share* growth of more than 35 percent in 2008 and high teens in
2009."
* Fully diluted, excluding 2007 non-recurring income, restructuring,
impairment and share repurchase program.
Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable
agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a
leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds
market. Sales in 2007 were approximately $9.2 billion. Syngenta employs over
21,000 people in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock
exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further information is available at
www.syngenta.com.
Safe Harbor: This document contains forward-looking statements, which can
be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential',
'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar
expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We
refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and
uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.
This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to
sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for
any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the
basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefore.

Unaudited Nine months Product Line and Regional Sales

9 months 9 months
2008 2007 Actual CER(1)
Syngenta $m $m % %
Crop Protection 7429 5739 + 29 + 22
Seeds 2156 1701 + 27 + 20
Business Development 22 3 - -
Inter-segment
elimination(2) (35) (44) - -
Third Party Sales 9572 7399 + 29 + 22

Crop Protection
Product line
Selective Herbicides 2063 1709 + 21 + 13
Non-selective
Herbicides 1101 711 + 55 + 48
Fungicides 2103 1556 + 35 + 26
Insecticides 1089 936 + 16 + 12
Seed Care(3) 622 452 + 38 + 30
Professional Products 387 348 + 11 + 7
Others 64 27 + 138 + 132
Total 7429 5739 + 29 + 22
Regional
Europe, Africa
and Middle East 2813 2123 + 33 + 18
NAFTA 2355 1935 + 22 + 19
Latin America 1213 861 + 41 + 41
Asia Pacific 1048 820 + 28 + 22
Total 7429 5739 + 29 + 22

Seeds
Product line
Corn and Soybean 958 795 + 21 + 17
Diverse Field Crops 420 298 + 41 + 28
Vegetables and Flowers 778 608 + 28 + 20
Total 2156 1701 + 27 + 20
Regional
Europe, Africa
and Middle East 984 706 + 39 + 24
NAFTA 872 785 + 11 + 10
Latin America 173 112 + 55 + 55
Asia Pacific 127 98 + 29 + 24
Total 2156 1701 + 27 + 20

(1) Growth at constant exchange rates.
(2) Crop Protection inter-segment sales to Seeds.
(3) Seed Care previously grouped within Professional Products.

Unaudited Third Quarter Product Line and Regional Sales

3rd Quarter 3rd Quarter
2008 2007 Actual CER(1)
Syngenta $m $m % %

Crop Protection 1875 1436 + 31 + 26
Seeds 417 283 + 47 + 41
Business Development 2 1 - -
Inter-segment
elimination(2) (17) (11) - -
Third Party Sales 2277 1709 + 33 + 28

Crop Protection
Product line
Selective Herbicides 384 286 + 34 + 27
Non-selective Herbicides 362 250 + 45 + 41
Fungicides 454 373 + 22 + 19
Insecticides 310 272 + 14 + 13
Seed Care(3) 234 153 + 53 + 45
Professional Products 98 93 + 5 + 1
Others 33 9 + 268 + 257
Total 1875 1436 + 31 + 26
Regional
Europe, Africa
and Middle East 563 452 + 25 + 12
NAFTA 505 339 + 49 + 48
Latin America 515 412 + 25 + 25
Asia Pacific 292 233 + 25 + 25
Total 1875 1436 + 31 + 26

Seeds
Product line
Corn and Soybean 144 63 + 131 + 129
Diverse Field Crops 67 44 + 50 + 35
Vegetables and Flowers 206 176 + 17 + 11
Total 417 283 + 47 + 41
Regional
Europe, Africa
and Middle East 173 129 + 34 + 20
NAFTA 99 63 + 58 + 58
Latin America 107 63 + 70 + 70
Asia Pacific 38 28 + 33 + 34
Total 417 283 + 47 + 41

(1) Growth at constant exchange rates.
(2) Crop Protection inter-segment sales to Seeds.
(3) Seed Care previously grouped within Professional Products.

Syngenta International AG

Media Office
CH-4002 Basel
Switzerland
Tel: +41 61 323 23 23
Fax: +41 61 323 24 24

Media contacts:
Medard Schoenmaeckers
Switzerland, +41 61 323 2323

Anne Burt
USA, +1 202 628 2372

Analyst/Investor contacts:
Jennifer Gough
Switzerland, +41 61 323 5059
USA, +1 202 737 6521

John Hudson
Switzerland, +41 61 323 6793
USA, +1 202 737 6520

SOURCE Syngenta

Media Office, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland, Tel: +41 61 323 23 23, Fax: +41 61
323 24 24; Media contacts, Medard Schoenmaeckers, Switzerland, +41 61 323
2323, Anne Burt, USA, +1-202-628-2372; Analyst/Investor contacts, Jennifer
Gough, Switzerland, +41 61 323 5059, USA, +1 202 737 6521, John Hudson,
Switzerland, +41 61 323 6793, USA, +1 202 737 6520