Seeds supplier Vilmorin nurtures higher Q3 sales

PARIS, May 6 (Reuters) - Vilmorin & Cie (VILM.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's fourth largest seeds company, posted higher third quarter sales on Tuesday and maintained its full-year target of achieving a rise in turnover and operating margin.

Sales rose 14.7 percent to 660.4 million euros ($1.02 billion), with turnover boosted by Vilmorin's recent partnership with Chinese company Hunan Xindaxin.

Vilmorin shares have soared on the back of rising commodity prices over the last year.

The stock, which rose 75 percent in 2007, closed up 0.3 percent at 117 euros on Tuesday. At that price, Vilmorin has a stock market value of around 1.6 billion euros. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta: Editing by David Cowell)