DuPont’s second quarter sales were $8.6 billion, up 26% versus the prior year. This reflects 21% higher volume, 5% higher local selling prices, a 1% benefit from currency, and a 1% reduction from portfolio changes. Emerging markets sales increased 32%.
All segments had double-digit sales increases, with more than 25% percent volume growth in the Electronics & Communications, Performance Materials, and Safety & Protection segments.
In the Safety & Protection segment sales rose 27% to $845 million, due to higher volume. Growth primarily reflects strengthening in industrial markets.
Performance Coatings’ sales rose 15% to $962 million, with 11% higher volume and 4% higher selling prices. Higher volume reflects improving demand in global automotive OEM markets and continued improvement in North American and European industrial markets, particularly heavy-duty truck markets.
In the Performance Chemicals segment sales were $1.6 billion, an increase of 26%, principally driven by a 19% increase in volume and 8% higher selling prices.
Agriculture and Nutrition delivered 16% sales growth and 31% higher pre-tax earnings. North American seed business performance underpinned this growth with both price and volume increases, marking another year of solid share gains in both corn and soybeans.
Planned fixed-cost increases for Agriculture & Nutrition, higher non-cash pension expense and an asset impairment charge were partly offset by productivity projects and restructuring savings, which remain on track. Fixed costs were 38% of sales.
“Our outstanding focus and disciplined execution delivered excellent results,” said DuPont chair and CEO Ellen Kullman. “DuPont’s global team worked closely with customers, applying the breadth and depth of our science capabilities to meet market needs. We grew sales across every segment. Several businesses, including electronics and titanium dioxide, delivered results that far exceeded pre-recession levels.
We continue to hit our productivity and cost-control targets, and remain highly disciplined in creating operating leverage to further grow the company.”
All segments had double-digit sales increases, with more than 25% percent volume growth in the Electronics & Communications, Performance Materials, and Safety & Protection segments.
In the Safety & Protection segment sales rose 27% to $845 million, due to higher volume. Growth primarily reflects strengthening in industrial markets.
Performance Coatings’ sales rose 15% to $962 million, with 11% higher volume and 4% higher selling prices. Higher volume reflects improving demand in global automotive OEM markets and continued improvement in North American and European industrial markets, particularly heavy-duty truck markets.
In the Performance Chemicals segment sales were $1.6 billion, an increase of 26%, principally driven by a 19% increase in volume and 8% higher selling prices.
Agriculture and Nutrition delivered 16% sales growth and 31% higher pre-tax earnings. North American seed business performance underpinned this growth with both price and volume increases, marking another year of solid share gains in both corn and soybeans.
Planned fixed-cost increases for Agriculture & Nutrition, higher non-cash pension expense and an asset impairment charge were partly offset by productivity projects and restructuring savings, which remain on track. Fixed costs were 38% of sales.
“Our outstanding focus and disciplined execution delivered excellent results,” said DuPont chair and CEO Ellen Kullman. “DuPont’s global team worked closely with customers, applying the breadth and depth of our science capabilities to meet market needs. We grew sales across every segment. Several businesses, including electronics and titanium dioxide, delivered results that far exceeded pre-recession levels.
We continue to hit our productivity and cost-control targets, and remain highly disciplined in creating operating leverage to further grow the company.”
