Wilmington based chemical giant DuPont posted an increase in sales for the third quarter of this year.
The company’s net sales for the three-month period ending September 30 were $4.9 billion. That’s up 1 percent from the same period last year.
With the growth in sales, DuPont expects its full-year 2016 earnings to increase to $3.25 a share, up about 10 cents from earlier predictions.
During the third quarter, earnings increased a penny per share, or $2 million. A year earlier, the company’s earnings increased 14 cents per share, or $235 million.
The company made its largest gain in nutrition and health, which was up 32 percent. Industrial biosciences was also up by nearly 30 percent.
The increase in sales comes as DuPont prepares to merge with The Dow Chemical Company. That plan is expected to be finalized by the first quarter of next year.
Once complete, the new Dow-Dupont Company plans to spin off into three independent companies -two of which will be headquartered in Delaware.
