Le Lézard
Classified in: Environment, Business
Subject: EARNINGS

Syngenta: 2019 Half Year Results


Reported Financial Highlights

 

 

 

1st Half 2019
$m

1st Half 2018
$m

Actual
%

CER1
%

 

Sales

6,766

7,249

-7 [-62]

-2 [-12]

 

EBITDA

1,461

1,709

-15 [-13]

-9 [-8]

 

1 Constant Exchange Rates
2 Excluding divestments and income from change of control under royalty agreements

Erik Fyrwald, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"The first half of this year saw many challenges for agriculture, including historic flooding in the US that resulted in significantly late planting and severe droughts in Australia and Indonesia. Growers continue to face challenges with trade issues. Sales for the first half of 2019 were 1 percent lower at constant exchange rates than in 20182. Adverse weather conditions were mostly offset by strong volume growth in Latin America.

We remain committed to focusing our innovation on helping growers deal with the impacts of climate change, including changing weather patterns and increasing pest pressure. New product introductions in the first half included fungicide seed treatment, VAYANTIStm, for the control of Pythium and Phytophthora diseases with first registrations expected in the US and Canada in 2020, and the registration of TAVIUMtm PLUS VAPORGRIP® TECHNOLOGY herbicide in the US and Canada. Syngenta is working with local teams to quickly respond to increasing Fall Armyworm infestation in Asia by providing advice and integrated pest management solutions, including FORTENZA® DUO, BT traits and biologicals."

Financial highlights 1st Half 2019

Sales $6.8 billion

Sales of $6.8 billion were 2 percent lower at constant exchange rates (CER) versus H1 2018, 1 percent adjusted for the impact of divestments. Excluding divestments, Crop Protection sales of $5.2 billion were flat against 2018 at CER. Seeds sales of $1.6 billion were 3 percent lower than adjusted 2018 sales at CER.

EBITDA $1.5 billion

EBITDA of $1.5 billion, was 15 percent lower than H1 2018, 8 percent down at constant exchange rates adjusted for the impact of divestments, reflecting the difficult weather conditions in the US and increased raw material costs in China.

Net income $798 million

Net income was $798 million compared to $1,209 million in H1 2018. Restructuring in 2018 included gains on mandated divestments, while 2019 charges include higher impairments partly from the closure of a production site. Excluding restructuring, net income was 6 percent lower, with the reduced operating result and increased interest expense after the 2018 bond issuance, partly offset by a one-off deferred tax revaluation gain due to the Swiss tax reform.

Free Cash Flow -$0.33 billion

Free cash flow before acquisitions and the US litigation settlement was -$0.33 billion (H1 2018 $0.71 billion). 2018 included proceeds from the mandated divestments, while 2019 includes the sale of Syngenta's Basel headquarters. Otherwise, lower free cash flow reflected the delayed and lower sales in the United States, coupon payments on the bonds issued last year, and higher tax payments.

Business highlights 1st Half 2019

 

Half Year

Growth

Adjusted2

Syngenta Group sales

2019
$m

2018
$m

Actual
%

CER
%

Actual
%

CER
%

Crop Protection

5,206

5,532

-6

-1

-5

-

Seeds

1,594

1,751

-9

-4

-8

-3

Inter-business elimination

-34

-34

+1

+3

+1

+3

Group Sales

6,766

7,249

-7

-2

-6

-1

 

 

Half Year

Growth

Adjusted2

Crop Protection
regional sales

2019
$m

2018
$m

Actual
%

CER
%

Actual
%

CER
%

Europe, Africa, Middle East

1,770

1,941

-9

-1

-9

-1

North America

1,401

1,636

-14

-14

-14

-14

Latin America

1,035

870

+19

+28

+19

+28

Asia Pacific

629

700

-10

-6

-10

-5

China

198

191

+4

+11

+4

+11

Other

173

194

-11

-9

-3

-1

Total Crop Protection

5,206

5,532

-6

-1

-5

-

 

Half Year

Growth

Adjusted2

Crop Protection
by product line

2019
$m

2018
$m

Actual
%

CER
%

Actual
%

CER
%

Selective herbicides

1,493

1,716

-13

-9

-13

-8

Non-selective herbicides

417

408

+2

+9

+2

+9

Fungicides

1,661

1,730

-4

+1

-3

+2

Insecticides

896

901

-1

+6

-

+6

Seedcare

458

459

-

+7

-

+7

Professional Solutions

219

252

-13

-10

-13

-10

Other

62

66

-6

-15

-6

-15

Total Crop Protection

5,206

5,532

-6

-1

-5

-

Crop Protection regional sales performance

Sales in Europe, Africa and the Middle East were 1 percent lower at constant exchange rates (CER) compared with H1 2018 despite a challenging market environment. A strong early season in the North with increased cereals demand in crop protection gave way to weakness in the second quarter.

In North America, sales were down 14 percent CER, impacted by extreme weather conditions. The first half saw two new product introductions: TAVIUMtm PLUS VAPORGRIP® TECHNOLOGY herbicide for use in soybeans and cotton, and VAYANTIStm for Pythium and Phytophthora control in a variety of crops.

In Latin America, overall momentum from 2018 was maintained with strong volume growth in Crop Protection partially offset by the impact of weaker currency. Sales in H1 2019 were 28 percent higher (CER) than in 2018.

In Asia Pacific, sales were down by 5 percent (CER), driven by drought in Australia and Indonesia and difficult market conditions in Vietnam.

China experienced continued momentum with Crop Protection sales increasing by 11 percent (CER) compared to H1 2018 assisted by successful in-licensing.

 

Half Year

Growth

Adjusted2

Seeds

regional sales

2019
$m

2018
$m

Actual
%

CER
%

Actual
%

CER
%

Europe, Africa, Middle East

656

720

-9

-1

-7

+1

North America

427

609

-30

-30

-16

-16

Latin America

143

144

-1

+4

-1

+4

Asia Pacific incl. China

163

148

+10

+14

+10

+14

Other

82

7

-

-

-

-

Flowers

123

123

-

+5

-

+5

Total Seeds

1,594

1,751

-9

-4

-8

-3

 

Half Year

Growth

Adjusted2

Seeds
by product line

2019
$m

2018
$m

Actual
%

CER
%

Actual
%

CER
%

Corn and soybean

755

852

-11

-9

-6

-2

Diverse field crops

397

430

-8

-1

-13

-6

Vegetables

319

346

-8

-2

-8

-2

Flowers

123

123

-

+5

-

+5

Total Seeds

1,594

1,751

-9

-4

-8

-3

Seeds regional sales performance

Seeds sales in Europe, Africa and the Middle East were 1 percent higher at constant exchange rates (CER) against H1 2018, with growth offset by challenging market and credit conditions in the East. Reported sales also reflected unfavorable currency impact.

In North America, where extreme weather conditions severely delayed planting and reduced acreage, Seeds sales were 16 percent lower compared with H1 2018.

In Latin America, sales rose by 4 percent (CER) with volume increase and the successful integration of Nideratm. Reported sales were reduced by unfavorable currency impact.

Sales in Asia Pacific, including China, increased by 14 percent (CER) with continued strong momentum in corn, new product launches and growth in Vegetables.

More detailed financial information is available on: www.financial-results.syngenta.com

About Syngenta

Syngenta is one of the world's leading agriculture companies. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world-class science and innovative crop solutions. Our technologies enable millions of farmers around the world to make better use of limited agricultural resources. With 28,000 people in more than 90 countries we are working to transform how crops are grown. Through partnerships, collaboration and The Good Growth Plan we are committed to improving farm productivity, rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.


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