AI, Biologicals Power Syngenta’s Strong Start to 2026
Syngenta Group has announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2026, reporting growth across all four business units with continued margin expansions. The results reflect the Group’s ongoing transformation toward a higher-margin, innovation-led portfolio, with particular strength in next-generation technologies, biologicals and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled agronomy solutions.
First quarter 2026 sales grew by 2% to $6.4 billion (-4% at CER). Syngenta Group’s innovation portfolio delivered strong commercial results across all strategic geographies in the first quarter, driven by new product introductions. This good result was achieved despite a market environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty and trade disruption.
EBITDA for the first quarter rose to $1.4 billion, up 5% (1% at CER) year-on-year. The EBITDA margin expanded by around 0.6 percentage points to 21.9%, compared to 21.4% in Q1 2025. This improvement is primarily the result of the company’s focus on higher-margin business, disciplined cost management, and continued operational efficiency gains.
The Group’s programs in AI continued to generate measurable business impact in Q1, with initiatives established in 2025 now scaling across the organization. Syngenta Group’s deployments span product development, precision agronomy, and commercial operations, reinforcing its position as one of the leading adopters of AI technology among agricultural companies.
Syngenta Crop Protection
Syngenta Crop Protection reported Q1 sales of $3.5 billion, up 3% (-3% CER), supported by a positive business environment in China and Europe specifically.
Crop Protection sales rose by 18% (CER 5%) in Europe benefiting from favorable crop conditions and strong performance in biologicals, with approvals for ORONDIS® in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands to protect high-value crops against downy mildew.
Asia, Middle East & Africa (excluding China) grew by 3%, while China maintained its momentum with 20% year-on-year growth and a continued strong demand in biologicals. AMEA saw exceptional growth of TYMIRIUM® technology and PLINAZOLIN® technology, and China saw continued demand for ADEPIDYN® technology and TYMIRIUM® technology products. In Brazil and LATAM sales declined 3% and 16% respectively, impacted by adverse weather in Brazil, lower pricing in Mexico, and high channel stock for key products in Argentina. TYMIRIUM® technology launched in Brazil, and in Latin America, while VIRESTINA™ technology received its first global registration in Argentina for weed control in soybeans and cotton. INCIPIO® received approval in Mexico for red mite control in hot peppers and tomatoes. North America sales were 12% lower due to a planned shift in timing of channel stocking. The region saw early and strong customer demand for products containing PLINAZOLIN® technology and TYMIRIUM® technology.
Syngenta Crop Protection has delivered a strong start to 2026, with nearly 350 product approvals in Q1. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for two new R&D sites: in Shanghai (China) and BioSTaR at Jealott’s Hill (UK), marking a significant step forward in Syngenta’s long-term commitment to bringing more crop protection innovation to farmers around the world.
Syngenta Seeds
Seeds sales were $1.5 billion in the first quarter 2026, up 7% year-on-year (1% CER).
Seeds Field Crop sales for the first quarter 2026 reflected broad-based momentum. Driven by strong finish Southern Hemisphere campaigns, LATAM sales were up 60% and Brazil sales increased by 26%. Sales in Asia, Middle East & Africa were up 11%, Europe was up 9% and China increased by 8%. North America sales were down 3% due to expected restructuring activities driving further margin improvements. Sales of Vegetable Seeds increased by 4% and sales of Flowers increased by 5%.
LATAM, Brazil and Asia, Middle East & Africa continue to focus on activation and demand creation ahead of their sales season, with added support from Brazil’s corn second season bringing in strong topline sales growth. Europe launched X-Terra® hybrid wheat in France with confirmed launches in UK (2027) and Germany (2029). China Seeds saw a particularly strong start to the year, launching Viptera Pro, a next-generation corn trait. North America corn reached a near sell-out position and introduced a new soybean combining Enlist E3® with the FG72 event, a next-generation herbicide-tolerant trait stack with anticipated commercial availability in 2029.
Syngenta Group China
Syngenta Group China recorded sales of $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2026, 1% higher year-on-year (-4% CER), Adjusting for the grain trading exit, underlying growth reached a robust 11% (5% CER) compared to the previous year.
Sales in key segments showed strong momentum, with Branded Formulation and Seeds achieving 15% and 9% growth respectively. Yangnong Chemical sales increased by 13%.
Across crop protection and seeds, newly introduced products gained strong commercial traction, with recent seed varieties and next-generation formulations both posting significant year-over-year sales growth. This includes ADEPIDYN® technology and TYMIRIUM® technology as well as biological crop protection products. Yangnong Chemical received official registration approval in China for WeiJing 威境® (Bisulflufen), a newly developed crop protection product that combats mites using a mode of action not previously available in the market.
ADAMA
ADAMA sales were at $1.0 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 4% (-1% CER) versus the prior year period in a stabilizing, but still challenging market environment for suppliers of post-patent active ingredients.
In the first quarter of 2026, ADAMA grew sales in North America by 8%. Sales in Europe, Africa and the Middle East increased by 14%, Latin America were 2% lower and Asia Pacific (excluding China) were 2% higher. Sales in China were 19% lower, reflecting the ongoing strategic reduction of certain basic chemicals and lower-margin products.
In Q1 2026, ADAMA introduced several new formulations worldwide, including MARATHON® in Australia, ADAMA’s first high-load Pyrasulfotole formulation with an in-built crop safener. MARATHON® delivers early post-emergence control of challenging and herbicide-resistant weeds in wheat and barley, with flexible tank-mix options for yield protection and resistance management.
Get The Newsletter Today!
