先正达表示，其第一季度销售额增长 2% 至 $47 亿，这是受拉丁美洲、欧洲和美国更高的昆虫和杂草压力推动。
作物保护销售额增加 4% 至 $32 亿美元，而种子销售额下降 2% 至 $13 亿美元。
这家总部位于瑞士巴塞尔的公司表示，欧洲、非洲和中东的 10% 增长主要受到作物保护的推动，因为欧洲在杂草、疾病和昆虫压力大的情况下提早开始了这个季节。报告称，尽管政局不稳，独联体的增长仍在继续，价格上涨部分抵消了当地货币贬值。
北美漫长的冬季推迟了整个玉米带美国季节的开始，但选择性除草剂的销量仍然增长了 6%。先正达表示，加州的干旱减少了对杀虫剂和杀菌剂的需求。该公司注意到其 Vibrance 种子护理系列在加拿大的良好增长以及更高的油菜和甜菜种子销售。
Growth in Latin America picked up pace from the preceding quarter despite dry conditions in Brazil and Argentina, as the spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds boosted demand, Syngenta said. It also said that high caterpillar pressure contributed to a “significant increase” in insecticide sales and in Venezuela, business resumed following resolution of a payment delay. Sales of its Elatus fungicide for soybean rust “progressed well” in Paraguay and Bolivia. It announced the Brazilian registration of that product in late February.
The company also highlighted double-digit fungicide growth in Latin America on increased use on cotton and expanding sales of its Durivo insecticide. In addition, a planned reduction in glyphosate volumes was “more than offset” by robust growth of its Gramoxone non-selective herbicide.
In Asia Pacific, growth was strong across both developed and emerging markets, Syngenta said. “In Australasia, herbicide sales in particular benefited from distributor support for our early season offers and from rainfall in March. In China, sales of Amistar technology doubled with expansion on rice and vegetables; South Asia saw strong demand for both crop protection and seeds in rice,” the company added.
展望未来，首席执行官 Mike Mack 警告称，第一季度一些新兴市场货币的贬值将对其全年 EBITDA 造成约 $1 亿的损失，而不是之前预测的 $50 亿。
“For the full year we maintain our sales growth expectation for the integrated business of 6% at constant exchange rates. As stated in February, lower seeds costs in 2014 will result in gross margin improvement. Research and development spend will increase and will be at the upper end of the targeted 9% to 10% of sales range,” Mack said in a statement.