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P A N U P S
Pesticide Action Network Updates Service
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Agrochemical Sales Flat in 2002

April 14, 2003

Agrow World Crop Protection News reports that 2002 agrochemical
sales were essentially flat worldwide, at US $27.7 billion.
Accounting for inflation and currency shifts, Agrow estimates
agrochemical sales actually fell by 1.5% in 2002. In 2001 the
market also shrank by 4.1%, thus the new figures bring the
overall decline to 12% in the last five years.

By region, western European agrochemical sales showed an
increase of 7.2% to US $6.3 billion, while the North American
market, the world's largest, shrank 1.7% to US $8.365 billion,
despite the fact that plantings were up 4%. Latin American
agrochemical sales experienced the largest decline, with
sales down by 3.8% to US $3.4 billion total. The Asia/Pacific
market fell by 1.8% in 2002, to US $7.15 billion.

Fungicide sales increased 2.7% globally, to US $5.1 billion,
while herbicide and insecticides sales were flat. Herbicide
sales constitute the bulk of world pesticide sales, accounting
for 46.6% of the total market.

The ranking of the top agrochemical corporations also shifted
in 2002, as the biggest seven companies consolidated down to six.
Agrow reports that Syngenta occupies the top spot for 2002, with
Bayer CropScience, which recently bought Aventis, in the number
two position, up from sixth place in 2001.

Monsanto remains in third place, same as last year, despite the
largest sales decline of any company on the list--down 18% for 2002.
Agrow attributes this decline to a drop in the US Roundup (glyphosate)
revenues and economic problems in Latin America. Monsanto's Roundup
and other herbicide sales fell by 24% in 2002 worldwide, despite the
2-3% rise in the glyphosate market within the U.S.

In the same issue Agrow reports that Syngenta, number two for
agrichemical sales in 2002, boosted their profits by 2%, despite
their drop in sales. The Syngenta CEO attributed the rise in
profits to cost cutting measures, and stated that Syngenta estimates
the global agrochemical and seed market shrank by 4% last year.

Forecasters expect global sales to decline again in 2003, due to
economic problems and drought conditions in Australia. Nonetheless,
the industry forecasts an expansion of about 0.4% (four tenths of one
percent) per year over the next four years.

Rank US$Billions US$Billions
2002 Company Sales 2002 Sales 2001 Change
1 Syngenta 5.260 5.385 -2.3%
2 Bayer 3.775 3.978 -5.1
3 Monsanto 3.088 3.755 -17.8%
4 BASF 2.787 3.105 10.2%
5 Dow 2.717 2.612 4.0%
6 DuPont 1.793 1.814 -1.2%

Source: Agrow: World Crop Protection News, February 26, 2003, March
28, 2003. 18/20 Hill Rise, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6UA, UK;
Tel. (44) 20 8948 3262; Fax (44) 20 8332 8996; email ;
http://www.agro.co.uk/; Allan Woodburn Associates, 18 Newmills
Crescent, Balerno, Edinburgh, EH14 5SX, UK; Tel. (44) 131 451 5173;
Fax (44) 131 451 5172; email .

Contact: PANNA

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