Argentinean seed treatment market experiencing slow growth

Argentina is a diverse agricultural economy, producing both grains such as maize, sorghum, and wheat, and oilseeds such as soybeans and sunflowers. Most of the seeds planted to the broad list of crops receive a seed treatment package to address a number of threats to the seedlings. In fact, seed treatment expenditures by seed producers and channel partners in Argentina exceeded $100 million in 2013. 

 

In general terms, the 2013/14 crop season is affected by world commodity prices, local currency valuation, export taxes and export quotas for corn and wheat, and to variable weather patterns which in the past several crop seasons has had a significant impact on production in different areas and crops.

 

Some 32 million hectares are planted with corn, sorghum, soybean, sunflower, and wheat in Argentina in 2013. A majority of corn and sunflowers are treated with seed treatment chemicals. The average area of wheat, sorghum, and soybeans is lower, averaging 80% (wheat) to 90% (sorghum and soybeans).

There is an average of 1.2 applications, and some 38.3 million hectares are treated. A little over 30 hectares receive a fungicide seed treatment in Argentina in 2013. Of the total, Biagro, Maxim, and Curasemillas Nova Plus account for a large portion of the market.

 

Insecticide seed treatments were applied to the equivalent of almost 7.5 million hectares in 2013. The two largest brands are Poncho and Cruiser formulations.

 

Argentina continues to be the third largest producer of biotech crops after the United States and Brazil, producing 14% of the world´s total biotech crops.