DuPont expects strong 2010 performance

The Agriculture & Nutrition segment of DuPont's is expected to grow sales by 10% this year and increase pre-tax operating income across the seed, crop protection and nutrition and health businesses.

DuPont Executive Vice President James Borel said he expects 2010 to be just as successful as 2009 with further market share gains, net price increases, margin expansion and continued advancements in the pipeline to support longer-term growth.

Borel said seed order books are running ahead of last year's pace and suggest another one to two point gain in global seed corn market share.

"In North America, we're seeing double-digit volume growth in orders from growers who purchased from us last year," Borel said.

DuPont Rynaxypyr insecticide sales are expected to be over US$300 million in 2010, a year ahead of plan, said Borel. Products powered by Rynaxypyr are registered in 50 countries and the company expects to achieve registration for the chemistry in 25 additional countries by 2011, he said.

Borel expects share gains for DuPont Crop Protection in Asia, fuelled by grower demand for Rynaxypyrl and other DuPont leading insect control products - DuPont Lannate, and indoxacarb. The company also has renewed crop protection offerings in corn and soy for farmers in North America, Europe, and Latin America.

Borel said that the company's Optimum AcreMax 1 insect protection system is expected to receive regulatory approval in time for US spring planting. He expects Optimum AcreMax 2 insect protection to be introduced in 2012.

Both the Drought Tolerance I and the Drought Tolerance II traits for corn advanced in the research pipeline. Crop Protection has new products that have moved to pre-launch or launch across its market segments - herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and products for professional pest and turf management.