Brazil Stands Out for Syngenta as Seed Sales Jump 18%

Brazil was a standout for Syngenta in the first half of 2026, with crop-protection sales rising 7% and seed sales jumping 18% from a year earlier.

The performance contrasted with declines across Latin America and North America. Globally, Syngenta’s sales fell 2%, while EBITDA rose 2% to $2.4 billion and the EBITDA margin widened 0.9 percentage point to 19.5%.

Syngenta attributed Brazil’s crop-protection growth to the adoption of new technologies, including Tymirium, which combines nematicide and fungicide action for crops including soybeans, corn and sugar cane.

Other drivers included Plinazolin, an insecticide targeting resistant pests such as stinkbugs and leafhoppers, and the Adepidyn fungicide. The company is also expanding biological inputs in Brazil to help growers manage elevated fertilizer costs.

Brazil’s performance was especially notable against an 11% decline in Latin American crop-protection sales. Syngenta attributed the regional weakness to continued pricing pressure and channel destocking, particularly in Argentina.

European sales rose 8%, helped by currency effects, even as heat and drought limited fungicide and herbicide applications. Sales increased 5% in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, excluding China, while China maintained its recent momentum with 20% growth.

North American crop-protection sales fell 4%.

Seeds

Brazil performed even better in Seeds, where sales rose 18% in the first half. The performance was well above the 1% global growth rate.

Growth was driven by sales of seed for safrinha corn, the second crop planted on the same land after the soybean harvest; the launch of Syngenta’s first hyper-early hybrid for Brazil’s premium first-season, or summer-corn, market; and the introduction of 10 soybean varieties.

Syngenta held an estimated 3% share of Brazil’s licensed soybean germplasm market as of March 2026. Under Carlos Hentschke, president of Syngenta Seeds Brazil, the company is seeking to gain ground on seed genetics rival GDM through partnerships with local seed producers.

Brazil’s 18% increase was well above the 1% global growth rate cited in the Portuguese original.

Regional results varied. Seed sales rose 7% in Europe, 6% in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and 3% in China. They fell 13% in North America and 8% in Latin America.

This story was translated from the original Portuguese with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by The AgriBiz editorial staff.