European agrochemical market slightly up 1% in 2010

The value of sales in the European crop protection sector increased slightly by 0.7% to €8,032.4 million in 2010, reports the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA). Herbicide remained the largest category with sales up by 0.5% to €3,334.1 million. Fungicides dropped by 1.1% to €2,852.3 million, and insecticides increased by 4.9% to €1,103.2 million.

Agrochemical sales in Europe (€ million)
Category	2010	2009	%change
Herbicides	3,334.1	3,316.8	+0.5
Fungicides	2,852.3	2,883.8	-1.1
Insecticides	1,103.2	1,051.2	+4.9
Others	742.8	723.1	+2.7
Total	8,032.4	7,974.9	+0.7
Source: ECPA

Volume fell by 3.6% to 281,056 tons compared with 291,406 tons of last year. The largest decline was in insecticides, which fell by 26.1% to 36,224  tons, herbicides posted a 3.2% decrease to 103,414 tons. Fungicides were the only category to post increase, which rose by 7% to 107,730 tons.

Agrochemical sales in Europe (tons)
Category	2010	2009	%change
Herbicides	103,414	106,791	-3.2
Fungicides	107,730	100,657	+7.0
Insecticides	36,224	49,042	-26.1
Others	33,688	34,916	-3.5
Total	281,056	291,406	-3.6
Source: ECPA

France remained the largest market in Europe with sales at €1,799.2 million, it was followed by Germany, with sales at €1,255.0 million. Italy was the third largest market, posted flat sales at €807.9 million compared with last year. Ukraine had satisfactory growth at 50%, and Romania and Norway went up by 24.2% and 11.6%, respectively. The decrease in the market in France (-10.8%) and the UK (-5.7%) contributed to the overall decrease as did more substantial decrease in smaller markets such as Slovakia (-13.5%) and Belgium (-8.4%). The decrease in sales were partly balanced by growth in other markets, in particular Spain (+4.7%), Greece (+7.3%) and Romania (+24.1%). 

Over the last decade, while the sales of the crop protection products have increased slightly in nominal terms, the real value of sales has decreased. Comparing the average sales values in the period 2002-2004, nominal sales in the EU-15 were 6.4% higher in 2010. However, in real terms, this equates to a decrease of 7.3%.

Agrochemical sales in Europe by country (€ million)
Country	2010	2009	%change
Austria	110.8	108.5	+2.1
Belgium	169.1	184.7	-8.4
Bulgaria	49.5	47.5	+4.2
Croatia	52.3	52.4	-0.2
Cyprus	18.3	16.5	+10.9
Czech Republic	145.0	157.8	-8.1
Denmark	93.2	92.7	+0.5
Finland	55.0	59.4	-7.4
France	1,799.2	2,016.9	-10.8
Germany	1,255.0	1,262.0	-0.6
Greece	165.2	154.0	+7.3
Hungary	285.7	293.2	-2.6
Ireland	53.7	58.3	-7.9
Italy	807.9	808.1	-
Netherlands	303.8	303.6	-
Norway	21.1	18.9	+11.6
Poland	454.8	454.9	-
Portugal	118.5	120.0	-1.3
Romania	118.7	95.6	+24.2
Slovak Republic	68.7	79.5	-13.6
Slovenia	19.8	19.5	+1.5
Spain	629.3	600.8	+4.7
Sweden	54.1	57.1	-5.3
Switzerland	73.0	69.5	+5.0
Turkey	222.0	219.0	+1.4
Ukraine	300.0	200.0	+50
UK	588.6	624.5	-5.7
Source: ECPA

Eleven of the 24 member countries of the ECPA saw volumes down. Croatia posted the greatest decline at 25.6%, it was followed by Belgium and Sweden, which dropped by 21.4% and 20.9%, respectively. Denmark grew by 36.7% to 3,378 tons, followed by Norway and Romania, which increased by 26.0% and 20.1%, respectively.

Agrochemical sales in Europe by country (tons)
Country	2010	2009	%change
Austria	3,342	3,373	-0.9
Belgium	4,471	5,685	-21.4
Bulgaria	6,586	6,315	+4.3
Croatia	1,540	2,070	-25.6
Cyprus	620	707	-12.3
Czech Republic	5,139	4,889	+5.1
Denmark	3,378	2,472	+36.7
Finland	1,593	1,670	-4.6
France	61,903	63,677	-2.8
Germany	31,425	30,162	+4.2
Greece	7,192	6,537	+10.0
Hungary	8,691	7,990	+8.8
Italy	37,630	38,162	-1.4
Netherlands	9,182	9,163	+0.2
Norway	732	581	+26.0
Poland	18,180	18,461	-1.5
Portugal	21,058	20,801	+1.2
Romania	3,728	3,103	+20.1
Slovak Republic	1,853	1,733	+6.9
Slovenia	1,148	1,156	-0.7
Spain	39,043	35,200	+10.9
Sweden	1,160	1,467	-20.9
Switzerland	1,425	1,500	-5.0
Turkey	22,917	19,689	+16.4
Source: ECPA

The number of people employed by European agrochemical industry increased 2.5% to over 26,000 people in 2010. Of the people employed in the crop protection sector over 11,000 are involved in production and logistics, over 6,500 in sales & marketing and nearly 5,500 in technical support, including the research and development of the crop protection products in use.