Authoritative Release: China’s Pesticide Usage in Crop Production Projected to Reach 240,000 to 250,000 Tons by 2025

On November 22, the 38th China Plant Protection Information Exchange & Pesticide and Sprayer Facilities Fair was inaugurated. During the event, authoritative information regarding plant protection and quarantine for the 2024-2025 period in China was officially released. Below are the essential details concerning pesticide demand for 2025.

Overall pesticide demand

The total pesticide usage in crop production is anticipated to stabilize between 240,000 and 250,000 tons.

Chemical pesticides are expected to continue their decline, mainly due to reduced use of insecticides. Conversely, herbicides are projected to see an increase, while fungicides will also experience growth. Biopesticides are expected to witness a slight rise, with commercial volumes exceeding 90,000 tons and equivalent amounts surpassing 10,000 tons.

Varietal structure: Herbicides remain the predominant category, followed by insecticides and fungicides, together accounting for over 98% of total pesticide usage.

Use intensity: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), China’s pesticide use intensity (by equivalent amount) ranked 93rd among 197 countries and regions worldwide in 2022.

Demand for new pesticide application equipment

The replacement of plant protection drones is accelerating, with estimated demand expected to exceed 60,000 units by 2025, covering operational areas projected to surpass 3 billion mu cumulatively. Breakthroughs in technologies related to drift prevention, weeding, and orchard applications are anticipated.

The market for boom sprayers is likely to be significantly impacted, with an estimated demand of around 3,000 units in 2025. Extensive weeding in large dry fields in northern regions continues to present a substantial market opportunity, although challenges such as automation, air curtain technology, and damage rates remain critical bottlenecks.

Major pesticide varieties with high usage in 2025 (top ten ranked by equivalent amount)

Major insecticide and acaricide varieties

Top ten established varieties by equivalent amount: Dichlorvos, calcium polysulfide, phoxim, imidacloprid, mineral oil, trichlorfon, chlorpyrifos (restricted use), pymetrozine, Bacillus thuringiensis, and thiamethoxam.

Key varieties to watch: Triflumezopyrim, emamectin benzoate + indoxacarb, spinetoram, methoxyfenozide, and others currently under registration such as 785 and CS003.

Major fungicide varieties

Top ten established varieties by equivalent amount: Copper sulfate, carbendazim, ebdcs, thiophanate-methyl, tebuconazole, tricyclazole, chlorothalonil, prochloraz, isoprothiolane, and triadimefon.

Key varieties to watch: Epoxiconazole, pydiflumetofen, propiconazole, prothioconazole, metconazole, pyraclostrobin, and zinc thiazole.

Major herbicide varieties

Top ten established varieties by equivalent amount: Glyphosate, acetochlor, atrazine, glufosinate-ammonium, butachlor, bentazone, metolachlor, MCPA, pretilachlor, and pendimethalin

Key varieties to watch: Pyraquinate, flusulfinam, tripyrasulfone, topramezone, fenpyrazone, tembotrione, pyroxasulfone, pyroxsulam, cypyrafluone, among others.

Plant growth regulators

Major varieties: Ethephon, paclobutrazol, mepiquat chloride, chlormequat, gibberellic acid, thidiazuron, uniconazole, brassinolide, 2-diethylaminoethyl hexanoate, and cyanamide.

Key varieties to watch: Triacontanol, coronatine, prohexadione-calcium, and iron chlorine e6, as well as immune inducers like Verticillium dahliae.

Biopesticides

Major varieties: Bacillus thuringiensis, validamycin, abamectin, emamectin benzoate, kasugamycin, Helicoverpa armigera nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HaNPV), Bacillus subtilis, gibberellic acid, spinetoram, and nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV).

With the implementation of agricultural product quality and safety standards, alongside an increased emphasis on reducing chemical pesticide applications and the people’s expectation for a better life, the use of biopesticides in vegetable and fruit tree cultivation is expected to rise significantly.

Physical and chemical attractants and control products

There is anticipated growth in demand for specialized insect trap lamps, while the demand for broad-spectrum insect trap lamps is expected to decline.

Attractants: For pests such as striped stem borer, rice leaf folder, tomato leafminer, beet armyworm, cotton leafworm, fall armyworm, corn borer, and Helicoverpa armigera.