Japan agchem sales up 14% in H1 FY 2014

Agrochemical sales in Japan soared up by 14.4% to 244,626 million yen ($2,394.9 million at the current rate) in the first half of FY 2014, according to the Japan Crop Protection Association(JCPA). The sales volume increased by 13.2% to 129,383 tons.

Almost all categories in sales value boosted in the first half year of FY 2014. Herbicides remained the largest category with sales value up by some 17.3% to 89,492 million yen ($875.3 million), while sales volume increased by 14.4% to 42,468 tons. Insecticides held the second position, with sales value up by 13.5% to 67,191 million yen ($657.2 million), followed by fungicides, with sales value up by 12% to 52,942 million yen ($517.8 million).

In the paddy fields, the sales of herbicides remained the largest portion, with sales going up by 21% to 55,712 million yen ($544.9 million), and sales volume rose by 19.2% to 25,324 tons. The insecticides sales held the highest growth rate, up by 26.6%, even though its sales value ranked the third position after insecticides/fungicides.

Among other sections, the sales of plant growth regulators(PGRs) increased by 10.7% to 3,944 million yen ($38.6 million). Interestingly, the sales value of rodenticides rose dramatically by 1550%, with sales volume increasing 950%.