US demand for home&garden pesticides to rise 3.5% annually through 2016

According to a latest report published by Freedonia “US Home & Garden Pesticides Market”, US demand for home and garden pesticide products will increase 3.5 percent annually through 2016, driven by increased interest in home gardening activities and by continued concerns about pest-borne diseases. Insecticides are the largest product type by value, while herbicides are expected to show the strongest growth due to recovery in lawn and garden applications. Growth will also be promoted by the use of value-added, ready-to-apply products, and by sustained interest in less hazardous products like biopesticides. Greater public awareness of pest-borne diseases, such as hantavirus and West Nile Virus, will also contribute to demand for home pest control products and repellents.

Lawn and garden pesticides to outpace household types

Lawn and garden pesticide demand is expected to grow faster than demand for household pest control products, due primarily to a recovery in the housing market and improved economic prospects overall. Continuing the trends seen in the 2006-2011 period, which was characterized by “staycations” and do-it-yourself yard maintenance during the recession, demand for lawn and garden pest control products will be buoyed by interest in gardening (especially edible gardens) and other yard activities. Similar to household pest control, demand for lawn and garden pesticides will be strongly impacted by increased interest in less hazardous pesticides, such as natural pesticides and animal repellents. Some biopesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, have already established a presence in the lawn and garden segment of the pesticide industry, but the natural and organic pesticide category as a whole remains less mature than conventional lawn and garden pesticides, offering plenty of room for expansion. In the larger household segment of the market, growth will be buoyed by concerns about pest-borne diseases, such as West Nile Virus, and by a greater level of interest in environmentally friendly pest control. The strongest gains are expected in products that can effectively protect people and the home from pest populations, while still remaining safe for people, pets, and the environment. For example, insect repellents are forecast to show faster growth than insect controls, and animal repellents are expected to overtake rodenticides by 2016. Although conventional insect repellents -- such as those containing DEET and picaridin -- will remain the most common types, biorepellents such as lemon eucalyptus oil are expected to show much faster growth as consumers become more interested in naturally derived alternatives.

Shift toward value-added products to boost prices

In addition to trends favoring safer pesticide products, the US home and garden pesticide industry is expected to continue to be affected by the shift toward value-added, ready-to-apply products available in a range of retail locations. Many of these products contain very little active ingredient, but can be sold at a premium price due to proprietary formulations that maximize a pesticide’s efficacy in a particular climate or application. Additionally, many of these products are sold in special packaging, such as a specially designed spray bottle that enhances the ease of use and contributes to the value of the pesticide. The availability of pest control products in locations such as drug stores, garden supply centers, convenience stores, mass merchandisers, and home improvement stores contributes to industry growth as pesticides are readily available to consumers.