Brazil: Agrochemicals revenue reaches US$ 6.04 billion in the first half of 2020

By Leonardo Gottems, Reporter for AgroPages

According to the National Union for the Industry of Products for Plant Defense (Sindiveg), agrochemicals generated revenues totaling US$6.04 billion in the first half of 2020 in Brazil, a slight increase in sales compared to the first six months of 2019, when crop protection products generated US$6.03 billion.

"Soy (+ 33%), corn (+ 29%) and cotton (+ 18%) drove the accumulated growth of the area treated with pesticides from January to June 2020," said Sindiveg. During this period, 643.2 million hectares were treated, a 6% increase over the first half of 2019.

In terms of products, in the first half of 2020, insecticides accounted for 36%, fungicides for 33% and herbicides for 22%. This data comes from a survey carried out by Sindiveg, an organization that has represented the plant defense products industry in Brazil for 79 years and brings together 26 member companies.

Mato Grosso was the state that most demanded pesticides during this period, representing 28% of total, followed by São Paulo with 13%, states in the Matopiba region with 12%, Paraná with 10%, Goiás and the Federal District with 10%, Mato Grosso do Sul with 8%, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina with 8% and Minas Gerais with 4%.

“A broader analysis, such as from the first semester of 2020, highlights a clearer view of the impact of the use of pesticides on different crops, showing not only the greatest phytosanitary challenges but also the essential role of pesticides for Brazilian agriculture,” said Julio Borges Garcia (President of Sindiveg).