Syngenta sees strong growth in China as Q1 sales rise

Bayer AG

30/04/2026 07:01

ZURICH, April 30 (Reuters) - Swiss-based seeds and agrochemicals company Syngenta Group on Thursday reported slightly higher sales and profit during its first quarter due to strong growth in China and efficiency gains.

The Chinese-owned company, which is planning a flotation on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, said its sales increased by 2% to $6.4 billion in the first three months of the year.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 5% to $1.4 billion, said Syngenta, which competes with U.S.-based Corteva CTVA.N and Germany's BASF BASFn.DE and Bayer BAYGn.DE.

Syngenta, which is owned by Chinese state-owned group Sinochem 600500.SS, said the improvement was due to its focus on more profitable new products as well as continued efficiency improvements.

"This good result was achieved despite a market environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty and trade disruption," Syngenta said.

Crop protection sales rose by 3%, supported by the strong growth in China and Europe, while sales in Syngenta's seed business rose by 7%.

Syngenta's China business increased sales grew by 1%. When the effect of its exit from the grain trading business was removed, sales grew by 11% compared with a year earlier.

 (Reporting by John Revill, Editing by Linda Pasquini)

 ((John.Revill@thomsonreuters.com; +41 41 528 36 37; Reuters Messaging: john.revill.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))