Barclay Chemicals, the Irish manufacturer and distributor of crop protection chemical products which is owned by the Sheridan family, saw profits (EBITDA) rise 27% to €11.4m for the year ended 31 December 2017. Turnover rose 35% to €111.9m, which was mainly driven by a rise in sales volumes, according to recently filed company accounts. Operating margins were maintained at 10%. It made a pre-tax profit of €11.1m last year.

Staff numbers increased by 15 or 20% during the year, which drove a €0.5m increase in the wage bill to €4.6m. A €2.5m dividend was paid during the year, up from €1.6m a year earlier. The company has net assets of €47m.

Barclay is one of Europe’s largest post-patent manufacturers of crop protection products. Although a key product is glyphosate under the Gallup brandname, it also specialises in a growing range of herbicides and fungicides. It holds key positions with several active substances such as chlorothalonil, diquat, fluroxypyr, prochloraz, propiconazole and propyzamide.