Duponts Agriculture & Nutrition Segment Sales Ups 12% in 2009

DuPonts fourth-quarter 2009 earnings were $.48 per share, compared to a fourth-quarter 2008 loss of $.70 per share. Excluding significant items, fourth-quarter 2009 earnings were $.44 per share versus a $.28 per share loss in the prior year

Sales of $6.4 billion were up 10 percent versus prior year, led by sales growth greater than 20 percent for titanium dioxide, electronic materials, performance polymers and seed products.

Agriculture & Nutrition

Segment sales of $1.4 billion were up $143 million or 12 percent. Volume increased 9 percent, with increases in all regions. Selling prices were up 3 percent.

Segment volumes reflect 25 percent higher seed volume, with a strong start to the North America and European seasons, and successful summer plantings in Argentina, Brazil, and South Africa. Seed sales were $465 million.

Crop protection product volumes increased 5 percent, reflecting increased insecticide demand in Latin America.

Food and nutrition products sales were up slightly, reflecting increased sales in North America. Segment PTOI seasonal loss of $97 million, improved $67 million, principally due to higher seed volumes.