China’s registration and export status of the 27 pesticides banned in India

On May 14th, 2020, Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare issued a directive saying that no one should import, produce, sell, transport, distribute and use 27 pesticide varieties beginning from the date of the formal promulgation of the ban (Market Status of 27 Pesticides in China Table 1). The release of the news has immediately aroused widespread market attention and concerns. According to IIFL, the market value of the 27 pesticides to be banned reaches RS 63650 million.

India is China's main competitor in global supply of pesticide technical, the ban may benefit relevant Chinese manufacturers. Regarding the registration and export status of the 27 pesticides in China, this paper presents a summary, as based on the China Pesticide Export Analysis, and the registration information of China Pesticide Information Network (product registrations within validity up to July 8th, 2020).

Table 1   Market Status of 27 Pesticides in China

1.Herbicide

1)Atrazine

According to Customs export data, in 2019, 153 Chinese companies exported atrazine to 71 countries/regions, with the highest export volume to Brazil, the United States, Argentina, India and Nigeria. The total export value was $238 million with total export volume of 76,000 tons. The products with the highest export value were atrazine 95% TC, atrazine WDG 90% and atrazine 98% TC. Among the mixtures, the atrazine mixing with mesotrione and nicosulfuron had the highest export value.

According to China Pesticide Information Network, as of July 8th, 2020, a total of 286 companies hold 972 effective registrations containing atrazine, including 26 technical products, 173 single agents and 773 formulations. The top three registered formulations are OD (395), SE (210) and SC (202). Among the mixtures, the largest number of registrations are mixtures of atrazine with nicosulfuron and mesotrione, being 158 and 126 respectively.

2)Butachlor

In 2019, a total of 109 Chinese companies exported butachlor to 22 countries/regions, with a total export value of $39.03 million and a total export volume of 13,000 tons. The top five destinations are Vietnam, Nigeria, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines. The products with highest export value were butachlor 95% TC and butachlor 60% EC.

A total of 179 companies were granted 302 effective registrations in China containing butachlor, including 95 single agents and 23 technical products and 124 mixtures. The top three registered formulations are EC, WP and SE. Among the mixtures, the largest number of registrations are mixtures of butachlor with atrazine, bensulfuron and oxadiazon.

3)Diuron

In 2019, a total of 91 Chinese companies exported diuron to 62 countries/regions, with a total export value of $63.48 million and a total export volume of 11,000 tons. The top five destinations are Brazil, Thailand, Mexico, Nigeria and Colombia. The products with highest export value were diuron 80% WDG and 80% WP.

A total of 159 registrations were granted in China containing diuron, including 13 technical products, 36 single agents and 110 mixtures. The top three registered formulations are WP (78), SC (48) and WDG (18). Among the mixtures, the largest number of registrations are binary mixture of diuron with thidiazuron, as well as ternary mixture with ametryn and chipton.

4)Oxyfluorfen

In 2019, a total of 109 Chinese companies exported oxyfluorfen to 70 countries/regions, with a total export value of $73.36 million and a total export volume of 3,510 tons. The top five destinations are USA, India, Spain, Israel and Belgium. The products with highest export value were oxyfluorfen 97% TC and oxyfluorfen 240g/L EC.

A total of 174 registrations were granted in China containing diuron, including 18 technical products, 56 single agents and 100 mixtures. The largest number of formulation registrations are EC (99) and TC (48). Among the mixtures, the largest number of registrations are ternary mixture of oxyfluorfen with oxadiazon and pretilachlor, as well as binary mixture with acetochlor.

5)Pendimethalin

In 2019, a total of 92 Chinese companies exported pendimethalin to 70 countries/regions, with a total export value of $55.81 million and a total export volume of 10,100 tons. The top five destinations are Venezuela, Italy, Israel, Thailand and Pakistan. The top three products with highest export value were pendimethalin 95% TC, pendimethalin 500g/L EC and pendimethalin 330g/L EC, accounting for 94% of the total.

A total of 233 registrations containing pendimethalin were granted to 147 companies in China, including 27 technical products, 134 single agents and 72 mixtures. The top three registered formulations are EC (149), TC (27) and SC (21).

2.Fungicide

1)Captan

In 2019, a total of 41 Chinese companies exported captan to 38 countries/regions, with a total export value of $13.49 million and a total export volume of 2,878 tons. The top four destinations are Israel, the United States, Poland and Thailand. The products with highest export value were captan 95% TC, captan 97% TC and captan 80% WDG.

A total of 62 registrations containing captan were granted, including 11 technical products, 38 single agents and 13 mixtures. The top two registered formulations are WDG (23) and WP (16).

2)Carbendazim

In 2019, a total of 206 Chinese companies exported carbendazim to 87 countries/regions, with a total export value of $102 million and a total export volume of 22,400 tons. The top four destinations are Brazil, India, Thailand andThe products with highest export value were carbendazim 98% TC, carbendazim 50% SC and carbendazim 500g/L SC.

A total of 949 registrations containing carbendazim were granted to 432 companies, including 21 technical products, 261 single agents and 667 mixtures. The top two registered formulations are WP (671) and SC (150). Among the mixtures, the largest number of registrations are binary mixture of carbendazim respectively with thiram and mancozeb. 

3)Mancozeb

In 2019, a total of over 150 Chinese companies exported mancozeb to over 85 countries/regions, with a total export value of $46.80 million and a total export volume of 16,100 tons. The top five destinations are Vietnam, Indonesia, Tanzania, Thailand and the Philippines. The mancozeb 80% WP, mancozeb 75% WDG and mancozeb 96% TC accounted for 99% of the total export. Among the mixtures, the two mixtures of mancozeb with metalaxyl and cymoxanil have the top-ranking export value.

A total of 862 registrations containing mancozeb were granted to 386 companies, including 29 technical products, 248 single agents and 585 mixtures. Among the mixtures, the largest number of registrations are binary mixture of mancozeb respectively with carbendazim and metalaxyl.

4)Thiophanate-methyl

In 2019, a total of over 140 Chinese companies exported thiophanate-methyl to nearly 80 countries/regions, with a total export value of $27.20 million and a total export volume of 6,114 tons. The top four destinations are Brazil, Egypt, Mexico and India. The products with highest export value were thiophanate-methyl 95% TC, thiophanate-methyl 70% WP and thiophanate-methyl 500g/L SC.

A total of 538 registrations containing thiophanate-methyl were granted to 275 companies, including 19 technical products, 282 single agents and 237 mixtures. The main registered formulations are WP (350) and SC (135). The largest number of registrations are mixtures of thiophanate-methyl with thiram. 

5)Thiram

In 2019, a total of 21 Chinese companies exported thiram to 17 countries/regions, with a total export value of $555,000 and a total export volume of 177.77 tons. The main destinations are Sudan, Senegal, Uruguay and Myanmar. The two products with highest export value were thiram 50% WP and thiram 80% WDG. 

A total of 721 registrations containing thiram were granted to 326 companies, including 12 technical products, 77 single agents and 627 mixtures. The main registered formulations are WP (504) and FS (151). Among the mixtures, the largest number of registered mixtures are mixtures of thiram with carbendazim (138).

6)Zineb

In 2019, a total of 10 Chinese companies exported zineb to 8 countries/regions, with a total export value of $560,000 and a total export volume of 131 tons. The main destinations are South Korea, Japan and Libya. The top two export products were zineb 80% WP and zineb 90% TC. 

A total of 99 registrations containing zineb were granted, including 9 technical products, 82 single agents and 8 mixtures. The main registered formulation is WP (87).

7)Ziram

In 2019, a total of 3 Chinese companies exported ziram to 4 countries/regions, with a total export value of $193,900 and a total export volume of 57.1 tons. The main destinations are Vietnam and Cambodia. The top two export products were ziram 90% TC and ziram 72% WP.

A total of 88 registrations containing ziram were granted, including 2 technical products, 6 single agents and 80 mixtures. The main registered formulation is WP (86).

3.Insecticide

1)Chlorpyrifos

In 2019, a total of 300 Chinese companies exported chlorpyrifos to over 100 countries/regions, with a total export value of $193 million and a total export volume of 32,500 tons. The main destinations are Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. The products with highest export value were chlorpyrifos 97% TC, chlorpyrifos 40% EC and chlorpyrifos 95% TC.

Statistics shows that a total of 543 companies hold 1,126 registrations containing chlorpyrifos, including 72 technical products, 567 single agents and 487 mixtures. Concerning formulation type, the largest number of registered formulations are EC (683) and GR (108). Among the mixtures, the largest number of registered mixtures are binary mixture of chlorpyrifos respectively with phoxim and triazophos.

2)Deltamethrin

In 2019, a total of 110 Chinese companies exported deltamethrin to 77 countries/regions, with a total export value of $7.43 million and a total export volume of 1,235 tons. The main destinations are Indonesia, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. The products with highest export value were deltamethrin 25g/L EC, deltamethrin 0.4% chalk and deltamethrin 98% TC.

China has granted 199 deltamethrin registrations, including 11 technical products, 126 single agents and 62 mixtures. Registration statistics shows that the largest number of registered formulations are EC (108) and SC (21).