Corteva, a leading U.S. agricultural chemicals company, reported a smaller fourth-quarter loss on Wednesday, driven by significant sales volume increases. The company’s Crop Protection volume surged by 16% year-over-year, primarily fueled by strong demand for new products in Latin America. Seed volume also saw a substantial 19% increase, attributed to the anticipated expansion of the Safrinha corn planted area in Brazil.
Since 2023, Corteva’s profitability has been impacted by a decline in demand for insecticides and fungicides. This downturn resulted from farmers reducing purchases due to lower incomes and escalating costs. However, the company noted signs of stabilization in the crop protection industry during the fourth quarter, with continued volume gains. Despite this positive trend, Corteva anticipates ongoing price pressure.
Corteva is a major player in the U.S. crop protection market, competing with industry giants such as Syngenta, BASF, and Bayer. The company’s strong performance in sales volume demonstrates its resilience in a challenging agricultural landscape. Corteva’s innovative product portfolio and strategic focus on key markets like Latin America contributed to its positive results.
Despite the positive news regarding sales volume, Corteva’s shares dipped over 4% in after-hours trading. This decline was triggered by the company’s 2025 earnings forecast, which fell short of Wall Street expectations, indicating continued volatility in the agricultural sector. Corteva projects full-year 2025 operating earnings per share between $2.70 and $2.95, compared to analysts’ consensus estimate of $3.13 per share, according to LSEG data.
“Looking ahead to 2025, we acknowledge the dynamic macro environment but remain optimistic about improving agricultural market fundamentals,” stated CEO Chuck Magro. The company plans to repurchase approximately $1 billion of its shares throughout 2025.
For the three months ending December 31, Corteva reported a net loss attributable to the company of $41 million, or $0.06 per share. This represents a significant improvement compared to the $253 million loss, or $0.36 per share, reported in the same period last year. The narrower loss reflects the positive impact of increased sales volumes on Corteva’s financial performance. The company’s strategic initiatives and focus on innovation are expected to contribute to its continued growth in the agricultural market.
