New dynamics to sulfonylurea herbicide market: Jiangsu Ruidong’s metsulfuron-methyl technical granted registration in Australia

A few days ago, new dynamics is introduced to the sulfonylurea herbicide market. AgroPages learned from Jiangsu Ruidong Pesticide Co., Ltd that the company’s metsulfuron-methyl TC is granted registration in Australia. Back at the end of 2023, the company announced the environmental impact assessment of its production line of annual 13,600 tons of sulfonylurea technical and formulations, which shows the company’s confidence in the growth potential of the global sulfonylurea market and its determination on the continued investment and innovation in the product series. 

Major sulfonylurea herbicide varieties and market profile

Sulfonylurea herbicide is one of the mainstream herbicides in the world. This type of herbicide was developed by the U.S. DuPont in the late 70s of the 20th century. In 1982, chlorsulfuron, the first sulfonylurea product, was granted full registration in the United States, which kicked off the rapid development of the product series.

The mechanism of action of this type of herbicide lies on its inhibition of acetolactate synthetase (ALS) to prevent the biosynthesis of some of the amino acids, thus leading to kill of weeds. This mechanism of action enables a full play of the properties of high efficiency, low toxicity and low dosage of sulfonylurea herbicides, which play an increasingly important role in global agriculture.

Today, more than 40 sulfonylurea herbicides have been commercialized, more than 10 of which are widely used in global agricultural production.

• Tribenuron-methyl

Tribenuron-methyl is a highly effective systemic and selective sulfonylurea herbicide for application to wheat crops, being mainly used in wheat and barley for an effective control of a variety of broad-leaved weeds. Despite the challenge of weed resistance, Tribenuron-methyl plays a key role in weed control in wheat field, being applied as an important synergist for mixed use with other herbicides.

After the expiration of the patent in China in 2002, the Chinese home-made Tribenuron-methyl quickly took over the market. According to data from 2020 S&P Global Commodity Insights' Crop Science team (formerly known as Phillips McDougall), China is the largest Tribenuron-methyl market, with a market value of about US$50.21 million, mainly for application to wheat crops. The other important markets include the European Union (US$33.45 million), Russia (US$13.14 million) and Turkey (US$12.65 million). In 2019, China exported 1,015 tons of Tribenuron-methyl worth US$27.64 million; major destinations of the China’s export include Russia, Greece, Indonesia, Ukraine and Turkey.

• Metsulfuron-methyl

Metsulfuron-methyl is a high-efficient wheat herbicide developed by DuPont in the early 80s, with activity being 2-3 times of chlorsulfuron. It is low toxic to human and animals, being mainly used for control of broad-leaved weeds while being effective against grassy weeds, attributable to its properties of high activity, wide herbicidal range and targeted kill. It should be noted that China gradually revoked its domestic registration since 2013, because of its long residual effect which may pose a threat to the water ecological environment. Today, the product is already banned in China and the existing registration has been changed to export-only, in support of registration and sale in the international market. 

According to S&P Global Commodity Insights’ data, the largest metsulfuron-methyl is the Indian market, with a market value of about US$25.73 million, being mainly used in foodgrain and sugar cane, followed by Brazil with market value of about US$19.3 million and Indonesia with market value of about US$12.09 million. According to a third-party data regarding 2013 global import and export of metsulfuron-methyl, China took up roughly 77% of the total global export, followed by India taking up 11%. The United States and Brazil are the top two destinations of China’s export of metsulfuron-methyl.

• Chlorimuron-ethyl

Chlorimuron-ethyl is one of the representational varieties of sulfonylurea herbicides developed by DuPont, which was widely used in China in the early 90s of the 20th century because of its high efficiency, broad herbicidal spectrum and targeted kill. As a selective pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicide, chlorimuron-ethyl is mainly used to control broad-leaved weeds in soybean field.

According to data, the application of chlorimuron-ethyl is concentrated in United States and Brazil while Brazil is the largest market, with a market value of about US$45.51 million, being mainly used for soybean, followed by the United States with market value of about US$26.83 million. According to a third-party data regarding 2013 global import and export of Chlorimuron-ethyl, China took up roughly 77% of the global total of export, followed by India taking up 12%. 

• Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl

Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl is an ultra-efficient, broad-spectrum, low-toxic sulfonylurea herbicide for use in paddy field, which was developed by Japan Nissan Chemical Industry Co., Ltd in the late 80s of the 20th century and launched to market in 1990. Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl can be used in paddy transplanting or direct seeding, transplanting field and seedling throwing for control of broad-leaved weeds and nutgrass, being safe for paddy rice.

According to S&P Global Commodity Insights’ data, India is the largest Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl market, with a market value of about US$13.42 million, being mainly used for paddy rice, followed by Viet Nam with makret value of about US$6.81 million and China with market value of about US$4.62 million. According to a third-party data regarding 2013 global import and export of Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, China took up roughly 90% of the global total of export.

Jiangsu Ruidong: A leading sulfonylurea herbicide manufacturer

Founded in the 90s, Jiangsu Ruidong Pesticide Co., Ltd is nation’s designated pesticide manufacturer that integrates scientific research and innovation, pesticide technical production and formulation processing, pesticide sales at home and abroad, import and export trade. The company’s product range encompasses six categories, which include herbicide, insecticide, fungicide plant growth regulators, covering more than 30 product varieties, which are sold all over the country and exported to Europe, America and Southeast Asian countries.

Located in Qinchuan Fine Chemical Industrial Park, Lanzhou New Area (provincial-level chemical park), Gansu Ruidong Chemical Co., Ltd, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Ruidong, is one of the specialist sulfonylurea herbicide manufacturers. 

The company possesses production capacity of 3,000 tons of sulfonylurea technical and 6,000 tons of subsequent sulfonylurea formulations, with main products including metsulfuron-methyl 97% TC (1,000-ton capacity under registration number EX20230139), Tribenuron-methyl 95% TC (500-ton capacity under registration number PD20080256), chlorimuron-ethyl 98% TC (1,000-ton production capacity under registration number PD EX20230090) and Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 98% TC (500-ton capacity under registration number PD20097990). The company lays stress on establishment of a complete industry chain and is engaged in exportation of products, having gained high praises from customers at home and abroad for its dependable supply and fine quality of sulfonylurea products. The technical materials to be gradually launched to market include Sulfometuron-Methyl TC (200-ton capacity under registration number PD20170172), Bensulfuron methyl TC (500-ton capacity under registration number PD20070674), Rimsulfuron TC (200-ton capacity under registration number PD20140240), Thifensulfuron methyl TC (200-ton capacity under registration number PD20080254), Bispyribac-sodium TC (500-ton capacity under registration number PD20141237) and Pyribenzoxim TC (100-ton capacity under registration number PD20170462).

Future prospect: continued technical innovation and market expansion

Jiangsu Ruidong is actively making plan for future development. In December 2023, Gansu Ruidong Chemical Co., Ltd publicized the environmental impact assessment of the annual 13,600-ton high-efficient and low-toxic pesticide technical, formulation and intermediate project (Phase II), covering the annual 125-ton Rimsulfuron intermediate production line, 200-ton Rimsulfuron production line, 700-ton Metsulfuron intermediate production line, 500-ton Pyrimidine sulfonamide production line (including 150-ton Phase I upgrade), 1,000-ton Thidiazuron production line (including 200-ton Phase I upgrade), 100-ton Tribenuron-methyl WP production line and 100-ton tribenuron-methyl WDG production line. These project measures demonstrate the company’s determination on continued investment and innovation in the sulfonylurea industry sector.

With the increasing global demand for high-efficient and low-toxic pesticides, the market prospect of sulfonylurea herbicides is still promising. With its technical strength and continuous innovation capability, Jiangsu Ruidong is prepared to further expand its influence over the international market.

Website：www.ruidong.com.cn

Contact

Mr. Kitt Yu     

Tel: 86-13701593209  

E-mail: ygq3209@163.com / ruidong@vip.163.com