Singapore's Pesticide Registration Update: FMC's Cyantraniliprole Receives New Authorization

Located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore serves as a vital transportation hub in Southeast Asia. To the north, it borders Malaysia across the Johor Strait, while to the south, it faces Indonesia across the Singapore Strait. The country comprises one main island and 63 smaller surrounding islands. Its terrain is predominantly low-lying, with an average altitude of 15 meters, and its highest peak, Bukit Timah Hill, stands at 163.63 meters. The nation boasts a coastline exceeding 200 kilometers in length.

Over the decades, Singapore has significantly expanded its land area through land reclamation projects. From 581.5 square kilometers in the 1960s, its total area grew to 735.2 square kilometers by the end of 2023. The government plans to continue these efforts, with further expansions slated by 2030 to support economic growth and urban development.

Economic Pillars: Petrochemical and Biopharmaceutical Industries

Singapore is the world’s third-largest oil refining hub and Asia’s key oil product pricing center, with a crude oil processing capacity exceeding 1.5 million barrels daily. In 2023, the chemical industry’s output value reached SGD 94.8 billion, contributing 22.9% of the total manufacturing output. The Jurong Island Petrochemical Industrial Park hosts numerous global petrochemical companies, solidifying Singapore’s status as a leader in the global petrochemical sector.

Simultaneously, the biopharmaceutical industry has emerged as a strategic focus for Singapore. In 2023, this sector accounted for 9.6% of the country’s manufacturing output. Renowned pharmaceutical giants such as Sino-Foreign Pharmaceutical, Merck (MSD), and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have established a presence in Singapore, driving advancements in high-end manufacturing and technological innovation.

Tuas Port: A New Global Logistics Hub

Singapore is making significant strides in logistics by progressively relocating the operations of Keppel Terminal, Tanjong Pagar Terminal, Pulau Brani Terminal, and Pasir Panjang Terminal to the under-construction Tuas Port. The Tuas Port project, with a total investment exceeding SGD 20 billion, is being developed in four phases. Once fully completed in 2040, it is set to become the world’s largest fully automated container terminal.

        •   Phase 1: Construction began in 2016, creating 294 hectares of reclaimed land and spanning a total area of 400 hectares. The port commenced operations in September 2022, with three berths already in use and an initial planned capacity to handle 20 million TEUs annually.

        •   Long-Term Vision: By 2040, Tuas Port will accommodate the world’s largest container ships and manage 65 million TEUs per year, 1.5 times the current throughput, further strengthening Singapore’s position as a global trade hub.

Broader Implications for Industrial Development

Singapore’s achievements in petrochemicals and biopharmaceuticals provide a valuable blueprint for advancing other industries. In parallel, the standardized management of the pesticide market is essential for safeguarding agricultural safety and maintaining ecological balance. Next, we will delve into Singapore’s pesticide registration system, examining its regulatory framework and the market potential within this sector.

As of now, Singapore has issued a total of 342 pesticide registration certificates, involving 25 companies. Among these, conventional chemical pesticides dominate, with 338 registrations, accounting for a substantial 98.83%. In contrast, biological pesticides are limited, with only 4 registrations, representing just 1.17%.

Data source:Philippines Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority

Data time: Oct. 19, 2024

From an industry perspective, the pesticide registration market in Singapore is highly concentrated. Companies with more than 7 registered products make up the top 10 registered enterprises, collectively accounting for 90.06% of the total pesticide registrations in the country. Leading the market is Sundat (S) Pte Ltd, with 113 registered products, representing 33.04% of the total. Following closely is Asiatic Agricultural Industries Pte Ltd, with 67 registered products, contributing 19.59%. Together, these two companies account for over 50% of all pesticide registrations in Singapore.

Although Singapore is a small agricultural country with a limited number of pesticide registrations, it hosts products from internationally renowned companies such as Sumitomo, Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, and FMC. Notably, BASF does not have any registered products in the country. Additionally, FMC received a new pesticide registration in 2024 for cyantraniliprole, in an OD formulation. In the same year, three new pesticide registrations were added, including spinosad, avermectin, and indoxacarb, involving Asiatic Agricultural Industries Pte Ltd and Sundat (S) Pte Ltd.

Data source:Philippines Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority

Data time: Oct. 19, 2024

A classification of the 342 registered pesticide products reveals a variety of dosage forms, including Emulsifiable Suspension、Suspo-Emulsion、Ultra Low Volume Liquid、Oil Dispersion、Water Dispersible Granules、Oil-In-Water、Granules、Soluble Powder、Suspension Concentrate、Soluble Concentrate、Wettable Powder and Emulsifiable Concentrate. Emulsifiable Concentrate, with 139 products, accounting for 40.64%. Wettable Powder, with 92 products (26.90%), followed by Soluble Concentrate, which account for 10.23%. Together, these three dosage forms make up nearly 80% of the market, highlighting their dominant share in Singapore’s pesticide landscape.

Data source:Philippines Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority

Data time: Oct. 19, 2024

In Singapore, traditional pesticide categories such as fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides dominate the market, with a total of 327 registrations, representing 95.61% of the market share. Among these, insecticides lead with 203 products, accounting for 59.36%, followed by fungicides with 85 products (24.85%), and herbicides with 39 products (11.40%).

Data source:Philippines Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority

Data time: Oct. 19, 2024

Due to the relatively limited number of pesticide products in Singapore, certain active ingredients are more prevalent. Products with more than 8 active ingredients include carbendazim, metalaxyl, carbaryl, deltamethrin, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, glyphosate, malathion, mancozeb, dimethoate, and cypermethrin, collectively accounting for 156 registered circulation certificates, or 45.61% of the market.

Specifically:

        •   Cypermethrin leads with 33 products, making up 9.65% of the total;

        •   Dimethoate follows with 20 products, accounting for 5.85%;

        •   Mancozeb, malathion, and glyphosate each have 16 products, representing 4.68%;

        •   Chlorpyrifos ranks next with 11 products, or 3.22%;

        •   Diazinon has 10 products, accounting for 2.93%;

        •   Carbaryl and deltamethrin each have 9 products, representing 2.63%;

        •   Metalaxyl and carbendazim each account for 8 products, making up 2.34%.

These active ingredients highlight the concentration of certain chemicals within Singapore’s pesticide market.

Data source:Philippines Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority

Data time: Oct. 19, 2024