Greensboro, North Carolina
June 18, 2009
- Sales for azoxystrobin
reached $1 billion last year.
- With U.S. patent
protection until 2014, azoxystrobin is the foundation of the
Syngenta fungicide portfolio.
- Improvements at its
facility in Omaha, Neb., will allow Syngenta to produce
Quilt® fungicide at 10 times the current capacity.
With its fungicide sales up 25
percent last year and a forecast for strong demand to continue,
Syngenta Crop Protection is investing in a major expansion of
manufacturing capacity for its leading fungicide, azoxystrobin.
Azoxystrobin is the foundation of the fungicide portfolio and
can be found in brands such as Quadris®, Quilt and Abound®.
Azoxystrobin is protected under U.S. patents until 2014.
Syngenta announced the capacity expansion program in 2008, when
it began with a planned investment of $600 million worldwide
over three years for azoxystrobin and the insecticide
thiamethoxam. In the U.S., the Syngenta manufacturing site in
Omaha will operate on a new system utilizing continuous
formulation instead of the current batch process.
“With the new system we’ll be able to produce Quilt at 10 times
the old manufacturing rate,” said Randy Schomers, Syngenta plant
manager. “This will allow us to be much more flexible and
responsive to customer needs.”
Expansion at Omaha began in March 2009, and the new system is
expected to be online by the first quarter of 2010.
Jamie Eichorn, Syngenta fungicide brand manager, said the
investment decision was supported by the product’s success to
date, U.S. patent protection, and favorable long-term trends
toward improving Plant Performance™.
“In 2008 fungicides became the largest Syngenta product
category, led by azoxystrobin brands,” Eichorn said. “Global
sales of azoxystrobin surpassed $1 billion, and we expect demand
to be strong long-term in the U.S. and globally.”
For more information, please visit
www.syngenta-us.com or
www.farmassist.com.
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.
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