Malta Pesticide Registration Situation: Sharda's Prominence in the Niche European Market

Malta, an island nation in the central Mediterranean, is often referred to as the ″heart of the Mediterranean″ due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Situated between Italy and Tunisia, Malta lies just 93 kilometers south of Sicily, Italy, and 288 kilometers east of Tunisia, underscoring its vital geographical significance.

The country comprises five islands and several reefs, covering a total land area of 316 square kilometers. The largest is Malta Island, spanning 245.73 square kilometers, characterized by numerous natural harbors and over 190 kilometers of coastline. The second-largest island, Gozo, has an area of 67.08 square kilometers. Other islands include Comino, Cominotto, and Filfla, with the latter two being uninhabited. The landscape is rugged and rocky, with no virgin forests or rivers flowing to the sea, reflecting the nation’s relatively limited ecological resources.

Economic and Agricultural Development in Malta

According to World Bank data, Malta’s GDP structure in 2022 was predominantly service-driven, with agriculture, industry, and services contributing 0.95%, 12.34%, and 78.81%, respectively. Agriculture’s role in the national economy is minimal, reflecting its limited impact on overall economic output.

Malta’s agricultural sector faces significant constraints due to limited resources. As of 2021, agricultural land covered less than 10,000 hectares, and the severe scarcity of freshwater further hampers growth. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries collectively account for less than 1% of GDP. The sector employs approximately 1,800 full-time workers, with a notable decline in part-time agricultural labor over the past decade.

Domestic production is concentrated on animal feed, vegetables, fruits, flowers, and agricultural byproducts, while essential commodities such as grains, milk, vegetable oil, and fruits heavily rely on imports.

Foreign Trade

Malta has consistently faced a trade deficit, with the European Union remaining its largest trading partner. In 2022, Malta’s imports totaled €9.255 billion, while exports reached €4.501 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of €4.753 billion—an increase of €1.643 billion compared to 2021.

    • Imports: The leading import categories included mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (€1.07 billion), machinery and transport equipment (€924.3 million), food (€190 million), and chemicals (€135.9 million).

    • Exports: Key areas of growth in exports were machinery and transport equipment (€379.4 million), mineral fuels and related materials (€359.5 million), and food (€129.8 million).

Despite its small agricultural contribution, Malta’s trade dynamics underscore its reliance on imports for essential goods while showing growth potential in specific export sectors.

Overview of Malta’s Agricultural and Pesticide Market

Malta’s agriculture is characterized by a weak foundation and a heavy reliance on imports. This unique backdrop has a significant influence on the development of its pesticide market. To better understand the relationship between agriculture and pesticide use in Malta, we examine the current status of pesticide registrations.

As of now, Malta has issued only 337 pesticide registration certificates, covering 64 companies. Conventional chemical pesticides dominate the market, with 330 registrations, accounting for a staggering 97.92%. In contrast, biological pesticides are underrepresented, with only 7 registrations, comprising a mere 2.08%.

Data Source:Malta Competition And Consumer Affairs Authority.

Data Time：Dec. 18, 2024

The pesticide registration market in Malta is highly fragmented. Companies with more than eight registered products rank among the top 10 registrants, collectively holding 48.96% of all pesticide registrations—nearly half of the total.

    • Sharda (India): Leading the market with 48 registered products, Sharda accounts for 14.24% of total registrations. The company’s prominent presence in Malta reflects its strategy of targeting smaller European markets.

    • Agricultural Co-Operative Ltd (Malta): A local company ranked second, with 22 registered products, contributing 6.53% to the total.

    • Finchimica SpA (Italy): Ranked tenth, this Italian company holds 8 registrations, representing 2.37% of the total.

Other notable players include Albaugh, FMC, UPL, ADAMA, Bayer, Gowan, and Corteva. While Syngenta and BASF do not rank among the top 10 by registration volume, both hold active pesticide registrations in Malta.

In summary, Malta’s pesticide market reflects its agricultural limitations and dependency on imports. The dominance of conventional chemical pesticides, coupled with the fragmented market structure, highlights the challenges and opportunities for both local and international stakeholders. 

Data Source:Malta Competition And Consumer Affairs Authority.

Data Time：Dec. 18, 2024

Among Malta’s 337 registered pesticide products, the top ten dosage forms include:

• Water Soluble Powder

• Water Soluble Granule

• Oil Dispersion

• Dustable Powder

• Granule

• Capsule Suspension

• Emulsion, Oil in Water

• Wettable Powder

• Soluble Concentrate

• Water-Dispersible Granule

• Emulsifiable Concentrate

• Suspension Concentrate

Key Highlights:

    1. Suspension concentrates dominate with 58 registered products, accounting for 17.21%.

    2. Emulsifiable concentrates follow closely with 54 products (16.02%).

    3. Water-Dispersible Granule rank third, with 45 products (13.35%).

Together, these three dosage forms represent nearly 50% of the market, reflecting their significant share. Furthermore, the top ten dosage forms account for 73.29% of all registered products, indicating a high concentration in formulation types.

A notable trend is the growing preference for liquid or soluble formulations, even in Malta’s relatively small pesticide market, highlighting a global shift toward more user-friendly and efficient pesticide delivery systems.

Data Source:Malta Competition And Consumer Affairs Authority.

Data Time：Dec. 18, 2024

Traditional fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides dominate the Maltese market, with a combined total of 258 registration certificates, representing 76.56% of all registered products:

     • Fungicides: 112 products (33.23%)

     • Herbicides: 78 products (23.15%)

     • Insecticides: 68 products (20.18%)

Data Source:Malta Competition And Consumer Affairs Authority.

Data Time：Dec. 18, 2024

Despite the limited number of registered pesticides in Malta, certain active ingredients are prevalent. Categories with more than seven active ingredients include:

     • Copper preparations: 12 products (3.56%)

     • Deltamethrin: 11 products (3.26%)

     • Sulfur, prothioconazole, pendimethalin: 10 products each (2.97%)

     • Chlorantraniliprole: 8 products (2.37%)

     • Acetamiprid, dicamba, glyphosate, propamocarb: 7 products each (2.08%)

These ingredients collectively appear in 89 registered products, accounting for 26.41% of the total.

Breakdown by Product Type:

     • Insecticides: 3 active ingredients

     • Herbicides: 3 active ingredients

     • Fungicides: 4 active ingredients

Malta’s pesticide market shows a strong reliance on a limited number of dosage forms and active ingredients, with fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides dominating. The trend toward liquid and soluble formulations aligns with global market developments. This concentrated structure reflects the island nation’s unique agricultural needs and regulatory landscape.

Data Source:Malta Competition And Consumer Affairs Authority.

Data Time：Dec. 18, 2024