Principal Scientist Disease Traits

Syngenta sales and profit fall in Q3 as European heatwaves curb crop protection demand. 30-Oct-2026 Last updated on 30-Oct-2026 at 15:08 GMT Weather and weak farm economics have hit Syngenta's Q3 performance, but improving profitability suggests its strategy of prioritising margins and higher-value technologies over sales volume is beginning to bear fruit. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Syngenta reported lower third-quarter sales and EBITDA after drought and extreme heat across Europe weighed on crop protection demand and farmers delayed purchases. However, margins improved over the first nine months of the year as the company continued its shift towards higher-value businesses. Syngenta Group reported weaker third-quarter results on Friday, with sales falling 10% year-on-year to $5.2bn and EBITDA declining 2% to $800m, as extreme weather and cautious farmer spending weighed on demand. The company said persistent drought and unusually hot conditions across Europe reduced demand for crop protection products by limiting crop development and application opportunities. At the same time, pressure on farm incomes led growers to take a more cautious approach to purchasing seeds and crop protection products. Syngenta said delayed purchasing decisions in several markets also contributed to the weaker quarter, alongside its ongoing strategy of reducing exposure to selected lower-margin businesses. Sales for the quarter were down 10% from $5.7bn a year earlier, while EBITDA slipped 2%, or 4% at constant exchange rates. Profitability improves despite lower revenues. Despite reporting lower sales and profit in the third quarter, the picture was markedly different over the first nine months of the year. Syngenta recorded sales of $17.3bn during the first nine months of 2026, down 5% from $18.2bn a year earlier. However, EBITDA increased 1% to $3.2bn, while EBITDA margin improved by 100 basis points to 18.4%. Excluding the planned reduction of grain trading and other low-margin activities, underlying sales grew 1% over the period. The results support the narrative that Syngenta is becoming a more profitable business even as revenues shrink. The company said active portfolio management, disciplined cost controls and a focus on higher-margin products continued to support earnings growth despite challenging market conditions. The improved margin profile is likely to be welcomed by investors as Syngenta continues to pursue plans for a future stock market flotation. The latest reports indicate the company is targeting a Hong Kong listing in 2027, having pushed back an earlier goal of listing in 2026. Innovation strategy helps support margins. Syngenta said sales of newly introduced technologies continued to grow during the year, helping offset ongoing pricing pressure on off-patent crop protection products, particularly in Brazil and wider Latin America. Within Crop Protection, biologicals delivered double-digit growth in the third quarter, while newer technologies including TYMIRIUM(R) and PLINAZOLIN(R) continued to expand globally. The company highlighted continued investment in innovation and digital capabilities, alongside what it described as strict portfolio and cost management, to sustain profitable growth amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty. Leadership changes. Syngenta also announced a management reshuffle. Gaël Hili will become president of Syngenta Seeds on November 1, succeeding in his previous role as president and chief executive of ADAMA. He will be replaced at ADAMA by Dr Zhigang Hao, currently chief executive of animal nutrition company Adisseo.

Syngenta Group reports 9M 2026 results with higher profitability. Syngenta Group recorded sales of $17.3 billion for the first nine months of 2026, down 5% (-8% at CER). Excluding the planned reduction of grain trading business and certain other low-margin businesses, underlying Group sales grew 1% in the first nine months. During the first nine months, Syngenta grew sales of newly introduced technologies and achieved above-average prices, while pricing pressure on off-patent products continued to affect the portfolio, particularly in Brazil and across all Latin America. The market continued to face pressure on farm incomes, generally leading to more cautious purchasing behavior. Unfavorable weather in some markets, especially the persistent drought in Europe where unusually hot and dry conditions prevailed, impacted demand for crop protection products. EBITDA for the first nine months was $3.2 billion, up 1% year-on-year. The Group's EBITDA margin for the first nine months of 2026 improved to 18.4%, up 100 basis points compared to 17.4% in the same period last year, underscoring the deliberate shift toward higher-quality earnings. Sales for the third quarter of 2026 were $5.2 billion, down 10% compared to the prior year (-12% at CER) due to the continued reduction of selected lower-margin business as well as delayed purchases impacting sales in some markets. Third quarter 2026 EBITDA was $0.8 billion, down 2% year on year, or 4% at constant exchange rates (CER). During the first nine months of 2026 Syngenta Group continued to advance its innovation pipeline and digital capabilities, while applying strict portfolio and cost management to sustain profitable growth against a backdrop of macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility. Syngenta Crop Protection Syngenta Crop Protection delivered sales in the first nine months of 2026 of $9.8 billion, flat year-on-year (-4% at CER), as strong growth in Europe and China was offset by lower sales in Latin America. Biologicals sales continued to grow strongly, delivering double-digit growth in the third quarter on the back of strong year-to-date sales, namely in Brazil and China. The Crop Protection market remained highly competitive in the first nine months of 2026. In Brazil and across Latin America, pricing pressure on the off-patent portfolio continued to impact sales, while sales of newly introduced, higher-margin products grew strongly. The pricing pressure was amplified by the appreciation of the Brazilian real against the US dollar. The resulting change in product mix continued to contribute to improved gross margins. High interest costs and extreme weather have delayed some purchases into Q4 in the region. In Europe, Crop Protection sales grew by 6% in the first nine months, mostly due to currency effects. Asia, Middle East & Africa (excluding China) grew by 1%, while China maintained its strong momentum with 20% year-on-year growth as the demand for Syngenta's latest technologies and biologicals remained strong. In Brazil, sales declined by 6%, in Latin America by 14%, and in North America by 1% in the first nine months. For Crop Protection, innovation and commercial momentum continued, with over 1,400 approvals secured during the first nine months of 2026, including new registrations, renewals, and label or use extensions. In September 2026, Syngenta announced three new global Biologicals innovations: Exort technology, creating a new biostimulant category to support crop performance and more sustainable farming; Eqibre(R), improving the uptake and use of nitrogen, phosphorus and micronutrients; and a microbial fungicide with an omniactive mode of action for biocontrol. The global expansion of Tymirium(R) technology continued, generating strong sales in Brazil, China and the US. By protecting crops from nematodes and fungal diseases at exceptionally low application rates, it delivers significant value to farmers and seed companies. The rollout and acceleration of Plinazolin(R) technology, a broad-spectrum insecticide, continued across AMEA and Latin America. Virestina(R) technology was launched commercially in Argentina in Q3. Syngenta also announced a strategic partnership with Groundwork BioAg to scale mycorrhizal technology, helping farmers improve productivity and soil health and access carbon-credit income opportunities. Syngenta Seeds Seeds sales were $3.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026, flat year-on-year (-2% at CER). Field Crops sales continued to see strong momentum in the southern hemisphere where Brazil led by 13% growth and Latin America grew by 5%. Europe sales were up 3%. Sales in Asia, Middle East & Africa were flat year on year, while sales in China were slightly lower, down 1%, due to a planned reduction in grain-trading sales at Winall. North America sales were 11% lower, due to restructuring activities, which are now largely complete, and the decrease in planted corn acres in the U.S. for the entire industry. Sales of Vegetable Seeds increased by 2% and sales of Flowers grew by 4%. Brazil launched seven hybrids for corn second season expanding footprint and accelerating the portfolio transition in this higher-value segment. Latin America delivered an all-time high sunflower volume while Europe continues to deliver strong product performance from sunflower flagship, Sureli. The Asia, Middle East & Africa region continues to accelerate its corn business with biotech advancements in Indonesia and strong new product launches in Thailand, Philippines, and India. The Durastak(TM) corn rootworm trait stack won a silver Innovation Award at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show and North America launched AcreOne(TM), a reseller platform simplifying order-to-cash processes for Golden Harvest(R) customers. Vegetable Seeds & Flowers grew sales across its key regions in the first nine months and brought together more than 1,150 growers and partners from 50 countries to view more than 700 varieties at its annual innovation showcases in the Netherlands and the United States. Syngenta Group China Syngenta Group China recorded sales of $3.1 billion over the nine-month period, 18% lower year-on-year (-23% at CER), primarily reflecting the deliberate reduction of the low-margin business as part of the Group's active portfolio management. The business no longer incorporates the Sinofert fertilizer business. Momentum remained strong in key segments, with Branded Formulation growing 16%. Excluding the impact of grain trading, Seeds sales grew by 12%. On 12 September, Syngenta launched the Global Rice Innovation Center in Hefei, creating a world-class platform to accelerate rice innovation, strengthen food security, and support agricultural development across Southeast Asia and Africa. Construction of the Syngenta Crop Protection Innovation Center also reached an important milestone, with the basement foundations completed and above-ground construction now underway. ADAMA ADAMA sales in the first nine months of 2026 reached $3.0 billion, down 1% year-on-year (-4% at CER). ADAMA saw a 3% growth in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and a 5% growth in North America. Asia Pacific (excluding China) was up 2%, while sales in Latin America declined by 5%. Sales in China declined 16%, because of the reduced sale of chemicals not used in agriculture. ADAMA continued to advance its innovation strategy throughout the first nine months of 2026, delivering new differentiated products to key markets. In India, ADAMA introduced ACTAGON(R), a ready-mix pre-emergence wheat herbicide combining Pyroxasulfone and Metribuzin for control of Phalaris minor and other key weeds; the easy-mix liquid formulation helps growers reduce operational complexity by eliminating on-farm tank mixing and supporting fewer herbicide applications. In Germany, the PORAFAM(R) Titan kit combined a novel Aminopyralid and Quinmerac SC formulation with Metazachlor, a premium solution delivering improved broad-spectrum control of broad-leaved weeds and grasses in oilseed rape. Management update Gaël Hili will become President of Syngenta Seeds effective November 1, 2026. He has 25 years of business leadership experience in agriculture and was most recently President and CEO of ADAMA. Dr. Zhigang Hao, currently CEO of Adisseo, will succeed Hili as President and CEO of ADAMA. He has successfully led the transformation of the worldwide leader in animal nutrition and health. 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