DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition segment sales up 10% in Q2 2011

Sales of DuPont’s Agriculture & Nutrition segment (includes Crop Protection and Pioneer Hi-Bred businesses) were up $264 million, or 10% to $3.0 billion, reflecting 6% price gains and 4% volume gains. Pioneer seed growth was led by strong market performance in North America spanning volume, price and portfolio gains. Crop Protection sales increased across all product lines more than offsetting the impact of divested businesses.  PTOI for the quarter of $826 million grew 11% on higher sales, partly offset by the impact of portfolio changes.

First-half sales of $6.5 billion grew 15% with 9% higher volume, 5% price gains and 1% favorable impact of portfolio changes. Pioneer seed business delivered volume and price gains in North America and Europe. Crop Protection sales growth was underpinned by continued strong Rynaxypyr® sales, solid herbicide and picoxystrobin fungicide growth, partly offset by the impact of divested businesses. PTOI for the first half of $1.9 billion grew 16% on higher sales.