Geneva  - Swiss agrochemicals company Syngenta AG reported third quarters sales down 12 percent to 2 billion dollars Friday.

The company noted that in the first nine months of the year "sales were unchanged at constant exchange rates" and stood at 8.7 billion dollars.

Syngenta makes seeds, pesticides and other protection products and is one of the largest companies in its field.

In Europe and North America, "grower sentiment was subdued in a shorter season with lower pest pressure," while Syngenta said credit constraints in eastern Europe contributed to a reduction in volume.

Agriculture businesses have been hit as prices in the sector have fallen. (dpa)