Sales in the first nine months of the year increased by 9% to reach a record US$11 billion, with volume up 6% and prices up 3%. Total integrated sales increased by 7% at constant exchange rates. In Latin America, a strong start to the season drove sales growth of 18%, with expansion across all product lines. High soy prices are leading to acreage expansion and increased investment by soy growers in Brazil and Argentina.

Sales of crop protection for sugar cane doubled as a result of rapid technology adoption. In Asia Pacific, sales increased 3%. Significant growth in corn seeds, notably in South East Asia, demonstrates the continuing momentum of an enhanced corn portfolio. Crop protection sales were lower in Japan and also in India, owing to a delayed monsoon; expanding seed care use across the region was reflected in sales growth of more than 50%.

In Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the success of the integrated hybrid barley product offer drove sales particularly in Germany and Northern Europe. Eastern Europe maintained its record of broad-based growth, with sales in the CIS up by almost 20%. Overall crop protection sales in the low season were unchanged after a strong first half, with significant growth in fungicides offsetting lower herbicide and insecticide sales. In North America, crop protection sales were broadly unchanged despite a reduction in fungicide applications due to drought and a shift in selective herbicides phasing to the fourth quarter. Non-selective herbicides and seed care grew strongly; in addition, sales of FORCE^® tripled with increasing grower awareness of resistance to a competitor's corn rootworm trait.

Growth in selective herbicides in Latin America largely offset lower sales in Europe and in North America. Non-selective herbicides sales increased 13% reflecting strong demand in Latin America and an increase in REGLONE^® sales in Canada.

Growth in corn and soy sales was driven by Latin America and by Asia Pacific, where new corn hybrids were introduced in Indonesia and the trait offer in the Philippines expanded. This more than offset end-of-season adjustments in North America and Europe. Diverse field crops sales, which include hybrid barley seeds, were up by 35%.

In 2012 Syngenta has held two crop updates focusing on four of its strategic crops: Cereals, Corn, Rice and Vegetables. Increased pipeline targets for these crops support a revised total sales target for all eight key crops of US$25 billion by 2020. These targets comprise growth in the existing portfolio and the launch of new products, with an increasing emphasis on integrated offers reflecting the new R&D and crop team structure.

Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 26,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life.