Key Takeaways
- Bayer’s Crop Science Division grew Q2 2025 sales by 2.2% (Fx & portfolio adj.), reaching €4.788 billion
- Corn Seed & Traits led performance with 29.5% growth, offsetting declines in soybean and cotton segments
- Herbicide sales rose 1.4%, while insecticides declined due to regulatory changes in Europe
- EBITDA before special items rose 32.3% to €693 million, with margin up to 14.5%
- Bayer advances strategic priorities with regulatory submissions and operational streamlining in Crop Science
Bayer Crop Science Gains Momentum in First Half of 2025
Corn seed performance and cost controls drive Q2 profitability
Bayer AG’s Crop Science Division reported a 2.2% increase in sales on a currency- and portfolio-adjusted basis in the second quarter of 2025, reaching €4.788 billion, according to the company’s Half-Year Financial Report. The division, which includes seeds, traits, and crop protection products, played a key role in stabilizing group-wide performance amid broader challenges, including regulatory pressures and foreign exchange headwinds.
Growth was primarily driven by the Corn Seed & Traits business, which posted a 29.5% increase in sales, supported by global pricing gains, acreage expansion, and volume phasing in North America following a distribution network realignment.
Dicamba Impact Felt in Soy and Cotton; Insecticides Weakened by EU Regulation
Crop protection portfolio mixed as Bayer adapts to changing market conditions
While corn delivered strong results, Bayer’s Soybean Seed & Traits and Cotton Seed businesses declined 18.1% and 25.5%, respectively, largely due to the vacatur of the label for dicamba-based crop protection in the U.S.
The Insecticides segment saw a 13.1% decline following the expiration of Movento™ registration in Europe, while Herbicides posted a modest 1.4% gain, with glyphosate-based products remaining stable in volume but showing lower pricing.
Despite these pressures, the division achieved a 32.3% increase in EBITDA before special items, totaling €693 million, and expanded its EBITDA margin to 14.5%, up 4 percentage points. This was largely attributed to lower costs and favorable volume dynamics in the corn business.
Advancing Pipeline and Operational Restructuring
Strategic submissions position Crop Science for long-term growth
Bayer continued to execute on its strategy to streamline operations and improve profitability in the Crop Science business. The company reached regulatory milestones, including a proposed EPA approval for dicamba in the U.S., and submitted icafolin, a herbicide molecule with “blockbuster potential,” for approval in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and the EU.
CEO Bill Anderson emphasized the division’s progress: “The Crop Science Division is now in a position to streamline production and operations.” The operational refinements are expected to strengthen Bayer’s competitiveness in the global agricultural market, especially amid regulatory uncertainties and shifting crop protection dynamics.
Bayer’s Outlook and Strategic Focus
Crop Science seen as central to Bayer’s transformation plan
Bayer reaffirmed its commitment to growing its agricultural segment while navigating legal and macroeconomic headwinds. Although group-wide EBIT declined and free cash flow dropped sharply due to litigation provisions and STI-related payments, Crop Science emerged as a relatively stable and improving segment within the Group’s portfolio.
Looking ahead, Bayer is expected to continue investing in innovation within its Crop Science Division and realigning resources toward high-potential molecules and seed technologies—positioning the segment as a key driver of long-term value and sustainability within the Group’s strategy.
Read the complete financial results here.
Bayer AG
Bayer AG is a German multinational company specializing in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Recognized as one of the largest global players in the sector, Bayer operates across healthcare, agriculture, and life sciences.
With a broad international footprint, the company is involved in the development of innovative products and solutions for medical and agricultural challenges, contributing to human, plant, and environmental health worldwide.
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