Agrochemical company Syngenta AG (SYT) Friday reported a lower-than-expected 25% rise in 2008 net profit, fueled by high agricultural demand, but gave a guarded outlook for 2009.

The Basel-based producer of crop protection chemicals and seeds said net profit in the 12 months to end-December rose to $1.39 billion from $1.11 billion a year ago. A poll of six analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had foreseen net profit of $1.44 billion.

Earnings per share - excluding restructuring and impairment - rose 42% to $16.26 from $11.45.

Sales were $11.62 billion, up 26% on $9.24 billion a year ago.

The company said it aims to grow earnings per share this year. It didn't repeat a previous guidance of growth "in the high teens" in its EPS excluding non-recurring income, restructuring and impairments.

"In 2009, adverse currency effects and the need for tight risk management may limit growth in the emerging markets. Early signs for the northern hemisphere season are encouraging and we are well placed again to outperform the overall market, enabling us to continue targeting growth in earnings per share in 2009 despite economic uncertainty," Chief Executive Officer Mike Mack said.

Syngenta's shares closed Thursday at CHF224.90. They've fallen about 20% in the past 12 months, but are up 12% year-to-date owing to continuous strong demand from the agricultural markets, as reflected by strong results form Syngenta's U.S. competitor Monsanto Co. (MON) last month.

Company Web Site: www.syngenta.com

-By Julia Mengewein, Dow Jones Newswires; +41 43 443 80 45; julia.mengewein@dowjones.com

(Martin Gelnar contributed to this article.)