DuPont has reported a 5% growth in segment sales in the third quarter to reach $6.2 billion, which was said to reflect increases in all operating segments, excluding prior year sales from divested businesses. Business interruptions from continued volume growth in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe helped to offset lower volumes in the United States and Western Europe, although total volumes declined 1%, which the company said reflected, in part, the impact of the hurricanes on US demand. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were said to have reduced US third quarter sales by about $100 million and pre-tax operating income by about $50 million.
"We continued our positive momentum with our seventh consecutive quarter of margin expansion," said DuPont chairman and CEO Charles O. Holliday, Jr.
"However, soaring energy and ingredient costs are causing a structural shift that will create challenges for our customers, suppliers, and our own operations. We have initiated a number of actions to ensure we achieve our sustainable growth goals despite these new challenges."
