Australia pesticide sales fell 7% in FY 2013

The estimated pesticide sales in Australia fell by 7.2% to Aus$ 2,295.8 million(US$2,130.0 at the current rate) compared with the previous year in the fiscal year 2013 ended on June 30th, according to the data issued by Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

Table 1: Australia pesticide sales (Aus$ million)
Category	20131	20121	Changes (%)
Herbicide	1261.8	1301.9	-3.1
Insecticide	350.9	413.1	-15.1
Fungicide	169.7	218	-22.2
Household insecticide	135.6	131.6	+3.0
Pool products/algicide	59	55.9	+5.5
Seed treatments	33.4	39.3	-15.1
Growth promoters/regulators	32.8	38.1	-14.0
Mixed function pesticide	25.2	26.9	-6.5
Miticide	18.7	21.2	-11.5
Others2	208,7	228.2	-8.5
Total	2,295.80	2,474.2	-7.2
1. Year ended June 30th; 2.  Includes wood preservative, adjuvants/surfactants, vertebrate poison, antifouling, molluscicide, dairy cleanser, disinfectant, nematicide and repellent. Source :APVMA

In 2013, herbicides were still the largest category, accounting for 55% of the total sales, even though the sales slipped by 3.1% to Aus$1261.8 million (US$1,170.7 at the current rate). Except for the minor rise from household insecticides and algicides, the sales of the rest categories all dropped, including insecticides, fungicides, seed treatments and miticides.

There were 2866 registered herbicides, 1308 insecticides and 799 fungicides in fiscal 2013, compared with 2420, 1166 and 703 in 2012.  The details are as follow: