Syngenta's agchem sales down 4% in Q2 2015

Syngenta’s crop protection sales were down by 4% to $2,840 million in the secondary quarter ended on June 30th, while seed business dropped by 10% to 634 million. Total group sales decreased by 5% to $3,617million.

For the first half year of 2015, crop protection sales were down by 9% to $5,681 million. Seeds sales fell by 16% to $1,653million. Total group sales, including lawn and garden business, decreased largely by 10% to $7,634million. EBITDA was 5% lower but increased by 21 % at constant exchange rates. The EBITDA margin was 26.2 % and 29.2 % at constant exchange rates (H1 2014: 24.8 %).


According to Syngenta CEO Mike Mack, “In 2015 our industry has experienced continuing softness in crop prices and low farm incomes. Despite these challenges, and our decision to reduce sales of glyphosate, we achieved sales growth at constant exchange rates of three percent in the first half. We have been able to largely offset currency depreciation in emerging markets through determined price increases and this, together with our hedging program, has mitigated the impact of currencies on EBITDA. The realization of the first savings from our Accelerating Operational Leverage program has contributed to substantial margin improvement, demonstrating that we are on track to deliver a sustainable improvement in profitability. ”
“In the first half we saw continuing momentum from our new fungicide ELATUS™ and the successful launch in the USA of the new corn herbicide ACURON™. The excellent grower reception for both products reinforces our confidence in the innovation upturn that is now underway, with total peak sales potential for recently launched products of over $2.7 billion. In addition, to illustrate the longer term returns that we expect from our industry leading R&D, we have announced an expanded pipeline with peak sales potential of over $3.6 billion.”

Regional sales

Europe, Africa and the Middle East: After a strong start to the year growth continued in the second quarter, supported by further significant price increases in the CIS which more than offset the impact of currency depreciation.  Volumes increased in most territories with exceptions in France, which saw early purchasing at the end of 2014, and the CIS, where the price increases caused volume erosion in Seeds. Broad based growth in fungicides included a significant contribution from the new SDHI SEGURIS®. Seedcare also performed strongly, with good volume growth in Ukraine as well as EU Central.

North America: Growth in the second quarter was achieved despite the ongoing impact of low commodity crop prices and lower sales of glyphosate. Excluding glyphosate, sales for the first half were 4 percent lower. In the USA, corn seed sales increased significantly in the second quarter owing to higher trait income. Selective herbicide sales were also robust in the quarter, with the first contribution from ACURON™ following its approval in April. In Canada sales were lower as a result of drought and high channel inventory for Seedcare.

Latin America: Sales were affected by two key factors: the deliberate reduction in sales of glyphosate, and an increase due to a change in contractual sales terms for crop protection products in Brazil, which caused a timing change in sales.  Adjusted for these two factors sales were 2 percent lower, reflecting low disease and insect pressure, lower corn seed sales due to acreage contraction and deliberate credit constraint. In addition, Latin America South was adversely affected by the current economic uncertainty. The change in contractual terms in Brazil means that sales to distributors are now recognized on delivery instead of when sold on to the grower. It is a response to the increased size of the Brazilian business and will simplify operations while maintaining tight control over customer credit.

Asia Pacific: The second quarter saw a return to growth despite the phase-out of paraquat in China. Growth was driven by South Asia with increased sales on cotton and the further expansion of GROMORE™protocols. In ASEAN, sales continue to be affected by reduced rice acreage in Thailand. New products played an important role with the launch of SEGURIS® in China. DURIVO® continued to expand with growth of over 20 percent in the first half.

Sales by product category


Selective herbicides: major brands ACURON™, AXIAL®, CALLISTO® family, DUAL MAGNUM®, BICEP II MAGNUM®, FUSILADE®MAX, FLEX®, TOPIK®

In North America, the successful US launch of ACURON™ and increased soybean acres driving demand for DUAL MAGNUM® more than offset the impact of dry weather conditions in Canada. ACURON™, which received US EPA registration on 24 April, combines four active ingredients and three different modes of action to help corn growers manage weed resistance. Selective herbicide growth also reflected price increases in the CIS and the revenue recognition change in Brazil.

Non-selective herbicides: major brands GRAMOXONE®, TOUCHDOWN®

The sales decline is driven primarily by lower volumes of TOUCHDOWN® in all regions, resulting from the decision to reduce sales of solo glyphosate in order to improve profitability. TOUCHDOWN® prices were also lower. In addition, GRAMOXONE® sales in China have been phased out as a consequence of a regulatory change affecting paraquat liquid formulations.

Fungicides: major brands ALTO®, AMISTAR®, BONTIMA®, BRAVO®, ELATUS™, MODDUS®, REVUS®, RIDOMIL GOLD®, SCORE®, SEGURIS®, TILT®, UNIX®

Broad-based growth was achieved across the portfolio, with notably a strong performance by the new SDHI product SEGURIS®. Volume growth was robust across most of Europe despite dry conditions towards the end of the season. The ramp-up of ELATUS™ in Brazil continued with volume growth and price increases.

Insecticides: major brands ACTARA®, DURIVO®, FORCE®, KARATE®, PROCLAIM®, VERTIMEC®

Growth was driven by Asia Pacific with sales increases in all territories, supported by new product introductions in China and South Asia and broad-based price increases. Sales in Latin America were adversely affected by low pest pressure. DURIVO® continued to grow strongly in all regions except Latin America.

Seedcare: major brands AVICTA®, CRUISER®, DIVIDEND®, CELEST®/MAXIM®, VIBRANCE®

Sales were lower as a consequence of high channel inventories in the Canadian cereals market and lower US corn acres. These factors more than offset good performances in Central Europe and the CIS as well as in Asia Pacific. However, the second quarter saw a marked upturn with strong volume growth for AVICTA® and CELEST®.

Corn and soybean: major brands AGRISURE®, GOLDEN HARVEST®, NK®

Corn sales were affected by reduced corn acreage in the Americas. In the USA this was partly offset by higher trait income in the second quarter. Planted areas for corn were also lower in Europe but the impact on volume was offset by significant price increases in the CIS which fully compensated for currency depreciation.

Diverse field crops: major brands NK® oilseeds, HILLESHÖG® sugar beet

Sunflower sales increased significantly in Europe, the most important region, reflecting substantial price increases in the CIS. These price increases had some impact on volume, as high value hybrids faced competition from local seeds. Sugar beet sales were lower, as oversupply on the sugar market led to significant acreage shifts in Europe.

Vegetables: major brands ROGERS®, S&G®

Sales growth was solid in Europe despite lower volumes in the CIS and Israel. Sweetcorn sales were affected by high processor inventories. Pricing was robust in all regions showing the ability to capture value for high quality hybrids.

Business highlights in H1 2015

Accelerating Operational Leverage

The Accelerating Operational Leverage (AOL) program, announced in February 2014, targets savings of $1 billion by 2018 and has three main pillars: Commercial; Research and Development; and Global Operations. The program’s aim is to optimize the cost structure within the framework of the integrated strategy in order to attain industry-leading efficiency. In the first half of 2015 the company achieved savings of $104 million contributing to the significant improvement in EBITDA margin and putting Syngenta firmly on track to achieve the targeted $265 million (including $75 million from a previous program) in 2015.

Innovation

Syngenta’s recent crop protection launches comprise two fungicides (ELATUS™, SEGURIS®), three seed treatments (CLARIVA®, FORTENZA®, VIBRANCE®) and one herbicide (ACURON™). In the first half these products achieved sales of $264 million. Following its successful launch in April, Syngenta has revised up the peak sales potential for ACURON™ from over $250 million to over $500 million. The combined peak sales potential of the six recent launches is over $2.7 billion.

The longer term innovation pipeline comprises a further nine new products with combined peak sales potential of over $3.6 billion. The first launch from this pipeline is expected to be ORONDIS™, a fungicide for vegetables and specialty crops, in 2016.

Outlook

Mike Mack, Chief Executive Officer, said:“Our performance in the first half of the year demonstrates our ability to improve profitability even in a difficult market environment. It has been underpinned by the excellent progress in our AOL program which will make a larger contribution in the second half of the year. As usual, the outlook for the second half is largely dependent on Latin America, where we are confident in our ability to manage the business in an uncertain environment. This enables us to maintain our targets for the full year of sales broadly unchanged at constant exchange rates and EBITDA, after the impact of currencies, around the 2014 level. We expect to generate significant free cash flow.”

“With the significant improvement in our profitability in 2015, further AOL efficiencies to come and increasing trait royalty income, we are firmly on track to achieve our targeted EBITDA margin of 24-26% in 2018. The progress made by our new products and our expanded pipeline underpin our confidence in delivering sustained sales growth accompanied by market share gains.”