Australian pesticide sales expected to up 3% in 2011-12

According to a Notice issued by Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), the estimated pesticide sales in Australia rose by 2.7% comparing with the previous year to Aus$ 2,486.7 million (US$ at the current rate) in the fiscal year 2012 which ended June 30th. The collated interim product sales data received up until 19 November 2012, which comprises of 97.4% of all agrochemical products. The final sales data for the 2011-12 financial year will be released in March 2013, according to the APVMA.

Herbicides were the largest category with sales up 4.1% to Aus$ 1,302.7 million (US$ 1,353.4 million), accounting for 52% of the total sales. Insecticides posted significant sales increase to Aus$ 425.8 million (US$ 393.4 million), up by 17.1%. Sales of fungicides have dropped by 5.6% to some Aus$ 218.1 million. Nematicides’ sales have more than doubled to Aus$ 3.5 million.

There were 7,289 registered pesticide products on the market in the fiscal 2011, compared with 6,687 last year. The registered products include 2,420 herbicides, 1,166 insecticides, 703 fungicides, 545 Household insecticides and 205 growth promoters/regulators.

2011-12 Australian pesticide sales1 (Aus$ million)
Category	20122	20113	%change	Number of products (2012)
Herbicides	1,302.7	1,251.8	+4.1	2420
Insecticides	425.8	363.7	+17.1	1166
Fungicides	218.1	231.1	-5.6	703
Household insecticides	131.5	144.9	-9.2	545
Seed treatments	39.3	36.5	+7.7	162
Growth promoters/regulators	38.3	40.5	-5.4	205
Mixed function pesticides	26.9	25.9	+3.9	138
Miticides	20.9	26.1	-19.9	103
Molluscicides	16.7	14.0	+19.3	50
Nematicides	3.5	1.6	+118.8	19
Others4	263.0	284.5	-7.6	1778
Total	2,486.7	2,420.6	+2.7	7289
1 year ended June 30th 2012; the final sales data will be released in March 2013 2 data received up until 19 November 2012; 3 year ended June 30th 2011; 4 including adjuvant, antifouling, disinfectant, miscellaneous, pool products, repellent, vertebrate poison and wood preservative Source: APVMA