ZURICH, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Syngenta on Friday reported lower sales and profit during the third quarter, as summer heatwaves in Europe hit demand for its crop protection products, and cash-strapped farmers became more cautious about buying new seeds and sprays.
Higher fertiliser, fuel and energy costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East, along with rising interest rates, made farmers delay spending on sprays and seeds.
• Syngenta's sales fell 10% to $5.2 billion as it also exited lower margin businesses like its grains trading operation and some older products lost patent protection
• The company, controlled by Chinese state-owned firm Sinochem, said its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation were $800 million during the period, down 2% from a year earlier
• Reuters reported this week how Syngenta's advisers are targeting a valuation of at least $66 billion for its Hong Kong market listing, likely to be completed early next year
• For the first nine months of 2026 Syngenta said sales fell 5% to $17.3 billion. EBITDA rose 1% to $3.2 billion
• The company said it had increased its profit margin by 1 percentage point to 18.4% by focussing more on its higher margin businesses like a new product developed to protect plants against tiny worms and fungal diseases
(Reporting by John Revill, editing by Kirsti Knolle)