German agchems sales rose by 8% in 2013

German agrochemicals sales rose by 7.5% to €1,506 million ($2,041 million at the current rate) in 2013, according to the German Agriculture Industry Association, the IVA.

As the largest category, the sales of herbicides increased by 2.7% to €673 million ($912 million), representing around 45% of total sales. The growth was driven by strong cereal herbicide market, due to favorable weather conditions and higher price. Sales for sugar beet herbicides were comparable to 2012, because of the reduction of sugar beet growth area and a lower use intensity of some 10%. Even though corn planting area fell for the first time after years of steady increase, sales could be offset by higher prices. The sales of rape herbicides dropped slightly.

Sales of fungicides soared up by 18% to €611 million ($828 million). The growth was due to unstable weather, which resulted in higher disease pressure requiring intensive treatments at the late crop stage. The rise was also driven by increased oilseed rape areas and intensive treatments.

Sales of insecticides fell by 7.1% to €144 million ($195 million). The sales of other agrochemicals, including plant growth regulators(PGRs), rodenticides and molluscicides, rose by 6.8% to €78 million. The growth mainly came from PGRs sales, with prices as well as quantities sold increasing.