Syngenta Group reported first-half 2026 sales of $12.2bn, down 2% year-on-year, primarily reflecting the strategic reduction of its low-margin grain trading business in China.
Despite lower revenues, the world’s largest agtech company by sales increased first-half EBITDA by 2% to $2.4bn, while EBITDA margin improved from 18.6% to 19.5%. The company said margin expansion was achieved across all business units, highlighting a deliberate shift towards higher-quality earnings supported by portfolio optimisation, innovation-led growth and cost discipline.
Second-quarter sales fell 7% to $5.7bn, but EBITDA remained resilient at $1bn, underscoring the group’s focus on profitability in a challenging market environment.
Premium crop protection technologies drive growth
Syngenta Crop Protection emerged as a key growth engine, with first-half sales rising 4% to $6.6bn despite ongoing pricing pressure in some markets.
Growth was driven by strong demand for the company’s higher-value proprietary technologies, including PLINAZOLIN®, ADEPIDYN® and TYMIRIUM®, alongside continued momentum in biologicals across all regions.
China delivered 20% sales growth in crop protection, while Brazil grew 7% as farmers increasingly adopted Syngenta’s newer technologies. The company also secured almost 900 registrations, re-registrations and label extensions during the period, strengthening its innovation pipeline.
Among the highlights was the launch of VIRESTINA® in Argentina, described as the first selective herbicide targeting resistant grass weeds introduced in nearly four decades.
AI strategy moves from ambition to execution
Syngenta also used the first half to advance its ambition of becoming a leader in agricultural AI, investing in partnerships and projects designed to generate operational and commercial value.
A key milestone was the integration of CROPWISE® AI into the company’s Cropwise digital platform. New features include Farm Highlights, AI Machine Planner and CropwiseGPT, aimed at helping growers improve decision-making and farm management.
The company said AI, innovation and digital capabilities would remain central to its strategy as it seeks to maintain profitable growth under new CEO Hengde Qin, who assumed the role on 1 August.
Portfolio reshaping continues
The strongest evidence of Syngenta’s changing business mix came in China, where first-half sales fell 15% to $2.5bn following the continued reduction of grain trading activities, optimisation of the MAP business and the exclusion of its Sinofert fertiliser operations.
However, core growth segments remained robust. Branded formulations grew 15%, seeds increased 4%, and Yangnong Chemical sales rose 12%.
Similarly, ADAMA reported flat sales of $2.1bn but improved gross margins through a more streamlined product mix and ongoing cost-control measures, while continuing to reduce exposure to lower-margin products in China.
