* Syngenta Q1 sales rise 13 percent to $4.02 billion
* Beats average estimate of $3.9 billion in Reuters poll
* Seen good start to Northern hemisphere planting season
* Shares up 1.2 percent, outperform sector index
(Adds analyst comment, shares, more details)
By Katie Reid and Andrew Thompson
ZURICH, April 15 (Reuters) - The world's largest agrochemicals company Syngenta AG is eyeing more growth this year as spiralling commodity prices bolster demand for its products, executives at the group told Reuters.
Syngenta topped polls with a 13 percent rise in first-quarter sales at constant currencies to $4.02 billion, ahead of the average estimate of $3.9 billion in a Reuters poll as the group also benefitted from strong growth in emerging markets.
"We are set for a very good year," Syngenta Chief Financial Officer John Ramsay told Reuters just after the group posted its quarterly sales figures.
Syngenta, which makes products to kill weeds and bugs as well as genetically modified seeds, does not publish quarterly earnings.
"Underpinning the markets is continuing growth in emerging markets... very strong growth in eastern Europe and in Asia. All our products lines and all our regions are up significantly on last year."
At 0747 GMT, Syngenta shares were trading 1.2 percent higher, outperforming a 0.5 percent in the European chemicals sector.
"A record year is unfolding. Pricing is stronger than expected with positive implications for margins. Our estimates may rise a bit," Kepler Capital Markets analyst Florian Gaiser said adding the firm now deserves a premium to rival Monsanto.
Monsanto's quarterly profit topped polls on strong sales of corn seed for spring planting and improved margins.
FARMERS INVEST
Spiralling wheat, corn and soybean costs are encouraging farmers to buy more products from Syngenta and rivals such as DuPont and Monsanto as they seek to boost yields.
"Corn and soybean are strong so what we know with certainty is that farmers have plenty of incentive to get the crop in and to invest to maximise the yields," Chief Executive Officer Mike Mack said in the Reuters interview.
Mack also said food prices seemed to be more stable than in 2008 the last time they were at record highs.
This year's surge in food prices has sparked concerns about inflation and there were protests in Uganda this week against the rising costs of food and fuel.
Food groups, like Switzerland's Nestle, are now banking on price increases to help them deal with the higher costs of commodities, such as grains.
Syngenta, which itself has been able to push through some modest price increases, said the Northern hemisphere planting season started well despite a slight delay due to wet weather.
READY TO POUNCE
Syngenta said it would be open to going for buys to boost its seeds business and that its strong balance sheet meant it was ready to move should targets become available.
But Mack said consolidation in the crop protection market was less likely given the size of the players in this segment.
There has been talk recently that the sector could see some M&A activity with rumours swirling that Germany's BASF could buy Monsanto, although sources later said BASF had no plans to buy the global biotech seed company. (Editing by Mike Nesbit)