Yutian Analysis: Pyraclostrobin | Unexpected importing market and dark horses suppliers

Why Pyraclostrobin?

Pyraclostrobin is highly preferred by voters, especially those from India, Africa and one from Brazil. Moreover, it is among the top two fungicides just following Azoxystrobin.

The patent of Pyraclostrobin technical in China expired in June 2015, and till now there have been 287 registrants in total whereas 80 companies have the TC.

The export figures dramatically increased between 2015 and 2017, while in 2018 it decreased slightly to rise again in 2019. However, the export destination countries from China have not seen a big change, such as those in South America. New markets entering the Top 10 in 2019 were Laos, Ethiopia and Canada.

The reason that huge pesticide-consuming markets in South America such as Brazil and Argentina did not appear in this ranking was that BASF has already promoted Pyraclostrobin and competed with Syngenta's Azoxystrobin in those markets for more than 10 years. Another reason could be the long registration period in Brazil, which probably made Chinese suppliers first activate the Uruguay and Paraguay markets. Therefore, in the following illustration, Uruguay and Paraguay are the top two countries that imported Pyraclostrobin TC from China.

In 2019, China exported US$5.98 million worth of Pyraclostrobin TC and $752,000 worth of formulations. There could be some sample orders to Germany, Argentina, the United States and Brazil in 2019.

(Source: AgroPages China Pesticides Exporting Analysis System, Data period 2019)

How do we analyze Pyraclostrobin?

1. World demand

2. The five-year-price trend

3. Main formulation

4. Supplier change and production capacity

1.World demand

The total demand for Pyraclostrobin is 7000 tons, while global sales reached $ 800 million in 2018.

2. The five-year-price trend

The average price of Pyraclostrobin 98% TC had a declining trend. The price is a barrier for Chinese suppliers. Besides, BASF still owns a series of compound patents.

3. Main formulation

Expect the TC 98%, 97.5% and 97%. The most popular formulation was Pyraclostrobin 25%SC. The compound formulation was a mixture of Boscalid and Epoxiconazole. The newer compound in 2019 was Dimethomorph and exported to South America while Tebuconazole was exported to the Middle East and Africa.

4. Supplier change and production capacity

Dark houses suppliers from 2017 to 2019, ranking by export value.

The following table gives a brief view of the production capacity of the main TC manufacturers in China.

What is Pyraclostrobin?

Pyraclostrobin is BASF's proudest methoxy acrylate fungicide, although it has neither the systemic conductivity of azoxystrobin, nor the surface transpiration redistribution of azoxystrobin. However, its low melting point and high lipophilicity enable it to quickly distribute between the inner layers of plant leaves, move across layers, and mainly concentrate near the upper and lower epidermis of the leaves. Also, the mesophyll cells in the middle of the leaves tend to distribute and accumulate less. This aspect has helped it to achieve its surface protection, but also limited its therapeutic properties. However, the intrinsic activity of pyraclostrobin, the safety to plants, and the physiological effects of promoting greening and stress resistance to plants ranks it first among the methoxyacrylate fungicides.