Agrochemical sector a bright spot in slowing global economy

Date:10-27-2008

Agrochemical companies are expected to hold up better than the overall chemicals industry in the current global economic slowdown, with credit ratings remaining stable through the end of 2008 and 2009, according to Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services.

Thanks to continuing world population growth, improving standards of living, energy diversification into biofuels, and a cap on the amount of arable land available, the outlook for agrochemicals companies..remains favorable.

Record U.S. farm income is forecast for 2008, which should boost farmers’ purchasing power of fertilizer, as well as the latest state-of-the-art seed varieties. In addition, fertilizer prices should remain high because of tight supplies and strong demand globally, S and P said.

As a result, companies such as Monsanto Co. and Potash Corp. have seen their credit ratings upgraded in 2008, with the entire sector seeing S and Pratings improvements over the past 18 months.