NEWS
n Improved market conditions in North the acquisition of two European pesticide production plant with the to US$41 million in the first quarter
America and Latin America contributed seed companies in recent months. proceeds of a public share offering to be of 2007. Lower sales of the cotton
to a 3.3% increase in Chemtura’s crop The acquisitions were made through held this month. The company expects insecticide, Bidrin (dicrotophos), and
protection sales to US$91.6 million in the Monsanto’s new holding company, to raise some Rs1,020 million (US$25 the maize herbicide, Impact (BASF’s
first quarter of 2007. Acquisitions boosted International Seed Group (ISG), which million), of which Rs114.2 million will be topramezone),offset the contribution of
revenues by US$2.4 million, while higher was formed in 2006. ISG’s two operating used for the new facility in Panoli. two newly acquired products.The latter
volumes added US$800,000 and currency companies are the Dutch firm, Western accounted for just over 10% of Amvac’s
effects a further US$900,000. These Seed, and the French operation, Poloni n Nufarm has acquired the outstanding sales in the first three months of the year.
increases were partly offset by a US$1.1 Semences. 50.1% stake in its Brazilian agrochemical
million impact from lower prices. affiliate, Agripec. The companies agreed n A strong early season has boosted
n Monsanto has entered into a research to the takeover last month, and it comes revenues for Italian agrochemical
n Japanese company SDS Biotech’s collaboration with the US biotechnology less than three years since Nufarm company Isagro (Milan). Sales were up by
agrochemical sales were ¥11,702 million company, Chromatin (Chicago, Illinois), purchased its initial 49.9% interest. 28% to €47.7 million (US$62.5 million) in
(US$101 million) in 2006, which was on gene stacking technology. The “Agripec will serve as Nufarm’s Brazilian the first quarter of 2007. The rise in sales
similar to the previous year. Higher sales agreement gives Monsanto non-exclusive base, and we aim to be Brazil’s sixth was partly due to acquisitions from last
of rice herbicides contributed to growth in access to Chromatin’s “minichromosome” largest agrochemical company,” Agripec year. Revenues from Brazilian subsidiary
the domestic market. However, this was technology in maize, soybeans, cotton chief, Beto Studart, says. Sipcam Isagro Brasil had the largest
offset by a decline in overseas sales due and canola. Chromatin retains the right impact on Isagro’s global performance.
to continued competition from generic to broadly license the technology so n Makhteshim-Agan Industries (MAI)
products, the company says. that other companies and third parties continued to see higher agrochemical EUROPE
sales in the first quarter of 2007. Revenues
SDS Biotech’s agrochemical sales (¥ million) jumped by 16.1% toUS$511.1 million. Sales n The European Crop Protection
have grown for the past four quarters Association (ECPA) is concerned
Sales 2005 % change 2006
after a fall in last year’s first quarter . The that suggestions to speed up the EU
Domestic 7,869 +2.5 8,069
company cites the early European season agrochemical registration process and
Exports 3,927 -7.5 3,633
and the growing demand for crops such as improve data protection have been
Total 11,796 -0.8 11,702
maize, sugar cane and soybeans for the rejected by the European Parliament’s
positive results. The strengthening euro Industry Committee. However, the ECPA
also boosted the dollar value of sales, it welcomes the Committee’s support for
n Monsanto has completed its planned can use it. Monsanto and Chromatin explains. proposals to introduce EU-wide rules
acquisition of the US cotton seed will conduct a three-year research
company, Delta and Pine Land (D&PL programme, which may be extended if
MAI’s Q1 results (US$ million)
- Scott, Mississippi), for approximately necessary to complete it.
US$1,500 million. The move follows an
2006 % change 2007
agreement with the US Department of n Syngenta’s Indian subsidiary recorded
Sales 493.9 + 13.2 559.3
Justice (DoJ) to divest its existing branded crop protection sales of Rs875.4 million
Agrochemicals 440.4 +16.1 511.1
US cotton seed business to address (US$20 million) in the three months to Selling, general admin &
antitrust concerns. The company will sell 31March 2007, up by 49% on the previous
R&D expenses 94.6 +3.8 98.2
its Stoneville brand and related assets to year. The Indian agrochemical market Operating profit 83.6 +19.6 100.0
Bayer CropScience for US$310 million. It continues to benefit from last season’s
EBITDA
1
96.3 +23.8 119.2
is to sell its NexGen brand and germplasm favourable monsoon. Syngenta recorded 1
earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
to US cotton seed company Americot double-digit growth in the region in 2006.
(Lubbock, Texas) for US$6.8 million.
n Indian agrochemical and pigments n US agrochemical company American on parallel imports of pesticides and
n Monsanto has expanded its fruit company Meghmani Organics Vanguard (Amvac - Los Angeles, California) incentives for developing products for
and vegetable seed business with (Ahmedabad) plans to build a new recorded an 8.6% decline in revenues minor crops.
www.agrow.com  •   July 2007 
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