Nufarm, Sumitomo expand strategic alliance in Canada and Europe

Nufarm and Sumitomo Chemical announced that new distribution arrangements between the two companies have been put in place for Canada and three European countries -- Hungary, Romania and Ukraine.

In Canada, Nufarm Agriculture Inc. (“Nufarm Agriculture”) has become a distributor for crop protection and specialty products of Valent USA Corporation (“Valent”) and Valent BioSciences Corporation (“VBC”). Nufarm Agriculture is a Nufarm Group company, and Valent and VBC are companies of the Sumitomo Chemical Group.

Nufarm Agriculture distributes a wide variety of Valent and VBC product lines incorporating a portfolio of agricultural, horticultural, industrial vegetation management and biorational products in Canada. This arrangement builds on and augments the successful distribution arrangement commenced in 2011 when Nufarm Agriculture began distributing Valent’s Valteratm Herbicide.

In Hungary, Romania and Ukraine, Nufarm has also become a distributor for Sumitomo Chemical. Nufarm’s local group companies in these countries will distribute Sumitomo Chemical’s insecticides including esfenvalerate and pyriproxyfen. In addition, in Ukraine, fenitrothion, which is in widespread use worldwide as Sumithion™, will be distributed through a Nufarm local company.

General Manager of Nufarm Agriculture, Yvonnick Jambon, said “the Valent and VBC range of products includes a number of proprietary active ingredients and will strengthen Nufarm's position in a number of key market segments in Canada”.

Nufarm's General Manager for North East Europe, Peter van Sloun, said “the addition of the Sumitomo portfolio will strengthen Nufarm's insecticide position and allow the company to target a number of higher value segments.”

Managing Executive Officer of Sumitomo Chemical, Ray Nishimoto, said “in addition to the successful distribution of Valtera Herbicide by Nufarm, we welcome this expanded strategic alliance in Canada. Also, in these three European countries, the new distribution arrangements with Nufarm will further strengthen Sumitomo Chemical’s crop protection chemicals business.”

Since a capital tie‐up in April 2010 (AgroNews 2010-04-16), Nufarm and Sumitomo Chemical have continued efforts to create a synergy effect in various business activities including product sale and manufacture. These new arrangements now allow Sumitomo Chemical products to be distributed via Nufarm's platform on a broader geographical scale, spanning 15 countries, including Brazil, Indonesia and the European region (AgroNews 2010-07-01). Nufarm products are distributed via Sumitomo Chemical Group companies in six countries including France, Spain and Italy. Both companies continue to assess additional opportunities for cooperation.