Chinese group excepts to gain glyphosates market share in Brazil

Chinese company Sichuan Leshan Fuhua Tongda Agro-Chemical Technology Co. wants up to 30 percent of its exports to go to the Brazilian market as from 2010/11, said the Fuhua group’s director of international markets in Sao Paulo.

Steven Lu, who was taking part in the 3rd China-Brazil AgroChemShow fair which took place in Sao Paulo, said that the company, which was the leading producer of glyphosates in China, had a production capacity of 120,000 tonnes per year,80 percent of which was destined for export.

"Upon registration of the products, which should happen with two to three years, we hope that our market share in Brazil will reach 30 percent of our exports. From then on, the Brazilian market has the potential to match that of the United States,” said Lu.

In partnership with Nufarm, already operating in the country, the company expects to invest US$2 million to complete the toxicity and physiochemical studies necessary to obtain registration which would enable commercialization of pesticides on the Brazilian market.

Brazil has the one of the biggest glyphosate(see suppliers on agropages) markets, second only to that of the United States, where the company has already registered its product since 2007.

The group also exports herbicides to Australia, and countries in Europe and South East Asia and the company closed 2008 with sales of US$1.5 billion.

The China-Brazil AgroChemShow brought together 64 pesticide manufacturers from China interested in setting up partnerships in Brazil.