DuPont’s agriculture segment sales up 8% in Q4

DuPont’s agriculture segment, which includes agrochemicals and seed business, posted a 7.7% increase in sales to $ 1.297 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011. Volumes were up by 3% and selling prices up by 5%. The sales results reflected strong performance during the Latin American selling season. Loss of pre-tax operating income (PTOI) was $ 216 million compared with the same period of last year loss of $185 million. Loss of pre-tax operating income excluding significant items was $ 116 million and $135 million. The company noted that the improvement was due to higher sales.

In seeds, sales reflected success in each region with volume and price gains. In crop protection, sales growth was delivered in each product line and region.

Agriculture segment sales for 2011 rose by 16.8% to $ 9.166 billion. Volume increased by 10%, higher prices by 6% and 1% growth from portfolio changes. The business recorded a PTOI of $ 1.527 billion, up 18.1% compared with last year $1.293 billion.