China’s nine-month pesticide output up 20%

Pesticide production in China rose by 19.7% to some 2,565,000 tonnes in the first nine months of 2012 which ended on 30th September, representing the consecutive double digit growth, reports the China Crop Protection Industry Association (CCPIA).

Herbicides, the largest category, were considered as the main growth driver, with production increased by 41.7% in the first nine-month of 2012 to 1,176,000 tonnes, accounting for 45.8% of total production. The growth of herbicide output is driven by higher demand for commodity herbicides such as glyphosate, 2,4-D. Insecticide production fell by 5.5% to 588,000 tonnes, making up 22.9% of total production, while fungicide production dropped 10.2% to 104,000 tonnes, accounting for only 4.1% of total production. The figures indicate that the issue of over-production of pesticides in the domestic market has been “somewhat alleviated”, the CCPIA notes.

Chinese pesticide production (000 tonnes)1
category	September 2012	% change2	Nine months of 2012	% change3
Herbicides	113	+25.5	1,176	+41.7
Insecticides	65	–20.6	588	-5.5
Fungicides	11	1.7	104	-10.2
Total	259	-1.5	2,565	19.7
1 per 100% active ingredient; 2 compared with September 2011; 3 compared with nine months of 2011. Source: National Bureau of Statistics.