DLF strengthens core business and reports solid annual results

DLF, the Danish cooperative seed company, reported revenue of approximately USD 1.18 billion and EBIT of about USD 74 million for the 2024/25 financial year, reflecting operational resilience in a challenging global seed market. Revenue met expectations while EBIT rose 10%, surpassing forecasts, according to figures presented at the company’s annual general meeting in Nyborg.

Adjusted for the carve-out of its sugar beet operations into United Beet Seed, a joint venture with France’s Groupe Florimond Desprez, revenue remained broadly flat compared with the previous year.

Global market context

The Northern Hemisphere faced continued oversupply of forage and turf seed, leading to higher volumes but lower wholesale prices. In contrast, markets in the Southern Hemisphere were more balanced, with increasing volumes and generally stable prices.

DLF’s EBIT was positively affected by the divestment of its shareholding in Danespo A/S and the restructuring of its beet seed business.

“This season has brought more market challenges and geopolitical disruptions than we’ve seen before,” said Søren Halbye, DLF’s CEO. “We’ve focused on managing sales, controlling operations, and reducing debt. Managing high inventory levels required significant effort, supported by our workforce.”

Halbye noted that the European market, while showing some recovery, remains affected by excess seed stocks, which has constrained the prices paid to growers.

Strategic developments

During the year, DLF advanced several operational priorities:

• Financial resilience: Working capital was reduced by more than USD 78 million, a 19% decrease from the prior year.
• Focus on core operations: Activities concentrated on forage, turf, and vegetable seed multiplication, while non-core holdings such as Danespo were divested.
• New group strategy – “Connecting to Grow”: Launched in May 2025, the strategy sets out targets for returns to growers and emphasizes investment in innovation and adaptation to climate-related changes.

DLF’s vegetable seed business, Jensen Seeds, recovered in revenue and earnings after drought conditions affected performance in 2023.

Financial snapshot

Key figures for 2024/25 include:

• Revenue: USD 1.18 billion
• EBIT: USD 74 million
• Net profit after tax: USD 40.5 million
• Equity: USD 490 million
• Total assets: USD 1.0 billion
• Workforce: 1,963 employees

The results and restructuring illustrate broader trends in the global seed sector: producers are consolidating around core genetics, adjusting inventories to market cycles, and responding to climate and regulatory pressures. DLF’s efforts to reduce debt, streamline operations, and invest in climate-resilient seed varieties reflect wider pressures on agribusinesses worldwide to improve sustainability and manage supply-chain risks.

DLF, headquartered in Roskilde, Denmark, operates across multiple seed segments with a presence in international markets, making its performance a reference point for stakeholders in global agribusiness.