Basel-based Syngenta, the world's largest agrochemicals company, has posted a 14 per cent rise in full-year net profit to $1.6 billion (SFr1.46 billion) for 2011.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch and agencies
Sales were also up by the same margin, reaching $13.3 billion last year.
Farmers, especially in the United States and Latin America, have been seeking to boost yields and offset inflation on the back of higher wheat, corn and soybean prices. As a result they have been buying more products from Syngenta and its rivals, such as DuPont and Monsanto.
Syngenta, whose product line includes weed and insect killers as well as genetically modified seeds, is aiming for higher earnings this year as price hikes and cost savings of $190 million are expected to help it offset the impact of the strong Swiss franc and raw material prices.
The company plans to increase prices by between two and three per cent this year after raising them by four per cent last year.
Syngenta said it was sticking to its goals to make savings of $650 million by 2015. The company also reiterated it is aiming for a margin on an earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation level of 22 to 24 per cent by 2015.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Spotlight turned on agro investment boom
This content was published on
The second “jetfin AGRO” conference for investors with an eye on agriculture and water took place in the western Swiss city on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the global land-grab phenomenon continues to expand as states attempt to regulate the issue. Activists from some 25 Swiss non-governmental organisations and unions demonstrated outside the conference at the five-star Kempinski Hotel…
This content was published on
The West African country is calling for the product to be placed on the Rotterdam Convention list of extremely dangerous substances. A UN treaty, the convention establishes guidelines for the use of hazardous chemicals and pesticides with a view to protecting human and environmental health. A study conducted in June-July 2010 by the Burkina Faso…
This content was published on
A Swiss documentary asks how the world will be fed in just a few decades when global warming causes major losses in food production.
This content was published on
It all began with the textile industry, which made use of charming products such as sulphuric acid and caustic soda. In Switzerland attention soon turned to dyes, then medicines, herbicides, insecticides and fragrances.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.