Overview of sulfentrazone registration in China: Active and popular registration for export indicates promising future for the international market

Being a selective herbicide, Sulfentrazone is a triazolinone herbicide used in sugarcane fields to control annual weeds. 

After the liquid is absorbed by the roots or leaves of weeds, it destroys cell membranes by inhibiting PPO in chlorophyll biosynthesis, leading to quick drying and dying out of leaves. Hence, the stress of weeds on sugarcane is eliminated or alleviated, which increases the yield of sugarcane.

This article summarizes the registration of sulfentrazone in China and its future market trend to provide a business reference to industry practitioners. 

Registration of sulfentrazone products in China

1) Overall triazolinone herbicide registrations in China

Triazolinone herbicide is a class of herbicides widely used in farming. Today, it has become a popular herbicide worldwide and is available in five commercialized product varieties. Up to November 2024, three kinds of triazolinone herbicides covered 230 products within the validity of registration in China (as shown in Table 1), of which sulfentrazone products account for 11.3% of the total.

Table 1  Major Triazolinone Herbicide Registrations

2) Sulfentrazone registrations in China

Up to November 29, 2024, there have been 26 valid sulfentrazone registrations in China, including 12 TC and 14 formulation registrations. According to the toxic level, all products are low in toxicity. Among the registrations, there are 21 PD pesticides and five EX pesticides.

(1) TC product registrations

In August 2010, the first temporary registration of sulfentrazone TC (total active ingredient content of 90%) was granted exclusively for export, which was later updated to full registration with the change of total content. On the same day, an American company was granted temporary registration of 1 TC product (total content changed as well). Subsequently, TC product registrations increased from time to time. The years 2017 and 2018 saw peak registration of sulfentrazone, arriving at five registrations; in 2019-2021, sulfentrazone registration fell back; in 2022 and 2023, 1 TC product registration was granted, followed by 2 TC product registration in 2024. For information, sulfentrazone TC product registrations are shown in Table 2.

Table 2  Sulfentrazone TC Registrants in China

(2) Formulation Registrations 

In terms of formulation registrations, a total of 14 sulfentrazone formulation registrations were granted (as shown in Table 3), all of which are single agent and low-toxic, with 10 PD pesticides and 4 EX pesticides. On August 31, 2010, Jiangsu Suzhou FMC Crop Protection Co., Ltd was granted the first temporary registration of sulfentrazone formulation, which is a 40% SC formulation. In general, formulation registration remains in a slow upward trend, ranging from one to six registrations in 2020-2022, followed by a fallback in 2023; in 2024, 1 formulation registration was granted.

Table 3  Sulfentrazone Formulation Registrations 

There are three types of formulations: 12 SC formulations accounting for 85.71%, followed by one WG and one WP each.

Regarding crops for application, target of control, and method of application, sulfentrazone is registered only for application to sugarcanes for controlling annual weeds via soil spraying.

As regards the number of registrants, the registrations involve 10 sulfentrazone manufacturers, all of which are Chinese enterprises. With respect to registration for export only, Chinese sulfentrazone manufacturers have turned their eyes to the export business. 

On July 2, 2021, Ningxia Gerui Fine Chemical Co., Ltd was granted registration of sulfentrazone 500g/L SC, which was the first sulfentrazone exported from China. At present, products for export include one sulfentrazone TC and four formulations. There are four exporters of sulfentrazone, one each in Ningxia, Sichuan, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. For information, sulfentrazone registrations for export only are shown in Table 4.

Table 4  Sulfentrazone Registrations for Export Only

Conclusion and Prospect

Sulfentrazone is a primary crop protection product for the control of annual weeds. So far, sulfentrazone formulations are registered only for application to sugarcane to control annual grassy weeds, broad-leaved weeds, and sedge. However, there is potential for the application of sulfentrazone formulations to soybean, sorghum, sunflower, silage corn, tomato, strawberry, pineapple, and tobacco, indicating the promising future of the sulfentrazone market.

As seen from the number of formulation registrations, sulfentrazone registration in China is generally growing slowly. In contrast to the smaller number of registrations for the Chinese domestic market, export-oriented registration is more active.

In summary, as a PPO inhibitor, sulfentrazone will still appeal to research institutions, pesticide manufacturers, and sugarcane growers. With the increase in product registration, extension of crops for application, expansion of the target of control, and development of novel formulations and mixtures, sulfentrazone formulations could enjoy great potential and broad prospects in the crop protection market in the years ahead.