FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For the month of October 2009

Commission File Number: 001-15152


SYNGENTA AG
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

Schwarzwaldallee 215
4058 Basel
Switzerland
(Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F
X
 
Form 40-F
 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

Yes
   
No
X

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

Yes
   
No
X

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the Registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Yes
   
No
X

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A
 



 
Re:                      SYNGENTA AG
Press Release: "Third Quarter 2009 Sales”
Herewith we furnish a press release related to Syngenta AG. The full text of the press release is the following:
# # #


 
Syngenta International AG
 
Media Office
CH-4002 Basel
Switzerland
Tel:+41 61 323 23 23
Fax:+41 61 323 24 24
 
www.syngenta.com
 
Médard Schoenmaeckers
Switzerland   +41 61 323 2323
 
 
 
Jennifer Gough
Switzerland   +41 61 323 5059
USA+1 202 737 6521
 
John Hudson
Switzerland   +41 61 323 6793
USA+1 202 737 6520
 

 
Basel, Switzerland, October 23, 2009

Third Quarter 2009 Sales

·  
Nine month sales unchanged at constant exchange rates
 
·  
Third quarter sales 8% lower*; 3% lower* ex glyphosate price
 
·  
Good start to Latin America season
 
·  
Full year earnings target maintained
 
Sales in the third quarter of 2009 were 8 percent lower at constant exchange rates; excluding a decline in glyphosate prices sales were 3 percent lower*.  Reported sales were 12 percent lower at $2 billion.  In the first nine months of the year, sales were unchanged at constant exchange rates at $8.7 billion.

In Crop Protection third quarter sales were 10 percent lower*; excluding glyphosate pricing sales were 4 percent lower*. In Europe and NAFTA, grower sentiment was subdued in a shorter season with lower pest pressure; credit constraint in Eastern Europe also contributed to a reduction in volume.  Latin America saw robust volume growth at the start of the main season supported by higher soybean acres.  In Asia-Pacific sales were driven by the launch of new products and by strong growth in fungicides.  Overall, prices excluding glyphosate were slightly higher for the quarter and for the first nine months were up by 6 percent.

Crop Protection sales by product line saw an increase in Fungicides and Insecticides led by Latin America and Asia Pacific.  Sales of Selective Herbicides were lower primarily due to a product timing issue in France; Non-selective Herbicide performance reflected significantly lower glyphosate prices.  Seed Care sales continued their rapid growth in Asia Pacific but were lower in other regions.  Professional Products have been affected this year by the economic environment.

Combined sales of new products reached $274 million in the first nine months, an increase of 30 percent*, driven by DURIVO®, REVUS® and AXIAL®.

 
Seeds sales increased by 3 percent* in the quarter.  For Corn & Soybean volumes in Latin America showed good growth driven by corn in Argentina and soybean in Brazil; in NAFTA returns of soybean were higher following early season acreage
 
*  At constant exchange rates.
 
 
 
Syngenta - October 23, 2009 / page 1 of 4
 

 
 
uncertainty.  Diverse Field Crops and Vegetables grew strongly in all regions, with Vegetables continuing their rapid expansion in Eastern Europe and Asia-Pacific, notably China.  Flowers growth reflected the consolidation of acquisitions.

For the full year, Syngenta is targeting earnings per share** close to the record level achieved in 2008.
 
Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 24,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to www.syngenta.com.

 
**  Fully diluted, excluding restructuring and impairment.

 

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefore.
 
 
Syngenta - October 23, 2009 / page 2 of 4

 
Unaudited Nine Months Product Line and Regional Sales
 
Syngenta
 
9 months 2009
$m
   
9 months 2008
$m
   
Actual
%
   
CER(1)
%
 
Crop Protection
    6609       7429       - 11       - 2  
Seeds
 
2082
      2156       - 3       +6  
Business Development
    7       22       - 69       - 69  
Inter-segment elimination(2)
    (43 )     (35 )     -       -  
Third Party Sales
    8655       9572       -10       -  
                                 
Crop Protection
                               
Product line
                               
Selective Herbicides
    1887    
2063
      - 8       +2  
Non-selective Herbicides
    961       1101       - 13       - 5  
Fungicides
    1810       2103       - 14       - 4  
Insecticides
    995       1089       - 9       -  
Seed Care
    578       622       - 7       +1  
Professional Products
    317       387       - 18       - 15  
Others
    61       64       - 5       -  
Total
    6609       7429       - 11       - 2  
Regional
                               
Europe, Africa and Middle East
    2212       2813       - 21       - 6  
NAFTA
    2286       2355       - 3       +3  
Latin America
    1065       1213       - 12       - 12  
Asia Pacific
    1046       1048       -       +10  
Total
    6609       7429       - 11       - 2  
                                 
Seeds
                               
Product line
                               
Corn and Soybean
    969       958       +1       +7  
Diverse Field Crops
    374       420       - 11       +9  
Vegetables and Flowers
    739       778       - 5       +4  
Total
 
2082
      2156       - 3       +6  
Regional
                               
Europe, Africa and Middle East
    818       984       - 17       +1  
NAFTA
    974       872       +12       +13  
Latin America
    156       173       - 10       - 10  
Asia Pacific
    134       127       +6       +21  
Total
 
2082
      2156       - 3       +6  
 
(1)  
Growth at constant exchange rates.
 
(2)  
Crop Protection inter-segment sales to Seeds.
 
 
 
Syngenta - October 23, 2009 / page 3 of 4

 
 
Unaudited Third Quarter Product Line and Regional Sales
Syngenta
 
3rd Quarter 2009
$m
   
3rd Quarter 2008
$m
   
Actual
%
   
CER(1)
%
 
Crop Protection
    1609       1875       - 14       - 10  
Seeds
    406       417       - 3       +3  
Business Development
    2       2       - 32       - 31  
Inter-segment elimination(2)
    (17 )     (17 )     -       -  
Third Party Sales
 
2000
      2277       - 12       - 8  
                                 
Crop Protection
                               
Product line
                               
Selective Herbicides
    272       384       - 29       - 25  
Non-selective Herbicides
    270       362       - 25       - 21  
Fungicides
    454       454       -       +5  
Insecticides
    322       310       +4       +9  
Seed Care
    186       234       - 20       - 14  
Professional Products
    92       98       - 7       - 7  
Others
    13       33       - 59       - 64  
Total
    1609       1875       - 14       - 10  
Regional
                               
Europe, Africa and Middle East
    402       563       - 29       - 19  
NAFTA
    404       505       - 20       - 18  
Latin America
    515       515       -       -  
Asia Pacific
    288       292       - 1       +4  
Total
    1609       1875       - 14       - 10  
                                 
Seeds
                               
Product line
                               
Corn and Soybean
    126       144       - 13       - 13  
Diverse Field Crops
    70       67       +6       +20  
Vegetables and Flowers
    210       206       +2       +8  
Total
    406       417       - 3       +3  
Regional
                               
Europe, Africa and Middle East
    159       173       - 8       +4  
NAFTA
    94       99       - 6       - 5  
Latin America
    115       107       +7       +7  
Asia Pacific
    38       38       +1       +9  
Total
    406       417       - 3       +3  
 
(1)  
Growth at constant exchange rates.
 
(2)  
Crop Protection inter-segment sales to Seeds.
 
 
 

Syngenta - October 23, 2009 / page 4 of 4

 
 
SIGNATURES

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 

 
   
SYNGENTA AG
 
 
       
Date:
October 23, 2009
 
By:
/s/ Christoph Mäder
 
       
Name:
Christoph Mäder
 
        Title: Head Legal & Taxes