The industrialization progress of picoxystrobin in China and its global product layout

Date:12-03-2024

Editor’s note: A few days ago, an article by AgroPages analyzing the system support of the Indian picoxystrobin industry aroused attention within the industry. The coordinated development of the picoxystrobin industry chain in India is a classic case that demonstrates the overall upgrading of India’s manufacturing industry. 

Visit AgroPages article: Vertical Integration of The Industry Chain: A Case Study of Picoxystrobin

Picoxystrobin is a promising pesticide variety with a bright future; what is the current status of the industrialization of picoxystrobin in China? 

Which global markets are multinational companies currently making product layouts in? What type of formulations are being deployed? What kind of marketing and product ideas can enterprises draw from this information? In this special issue, we will continue the discussion and dig into the global market dynamics, industrialization progress, and potential commercial value of azoxystrobin. 

Picoxystrobin is a methoxy acrylate fungicide developed by Syngenta, which is a broad-spectrum, high-absorbent, high-efficient, and low-toxic fungicide that is widely used in soybean, corn, wheat, rice, sunflower, and rape. It is effective in the control of wheat diseases, including powdery mildew, leaf blight, and brown spot, with a promising prospect. Compared with the existing methoxyacrylate fungicides, picoxystrobin has a more substantial curative effect against wheat leaf blight, reticulated spot, and streak disease. Picoxystrobin is the fastest-growing variety of methoxyacrylate fungicides, with a global market value of US$305 million in 2022, according to Phillips. At present, picoxystrobin came off patent in China in 2008.

 

India: A ″One-stop″ picoxystrobin industry chain being established

In India, the Indian companies JUBILANT, NAVIN, and Deccan have worked together to support Corteva via the complete local production chain. In the Indian picoxystrobin industry chain, JUBILANT assumes responsibility for the production of intermediates, including 2-methylpyridine and 2-Chloro-6-methylpyridine; NAVIN focuses on the synthesis of the vital pyridine intermediate 2-Hydroxy-6-trifluoromethylpyridine; Deccan undertakes the synthesis of the compound, which is eventually supplied to Corteva.

This one-stop collaboration, beginning from upstream up to downstream, not only helps Corteva localize its production, which effectively improves its market response speed but also enables technical support and market distribution in favor of Indian companies. In the future, the involved companies expect to further expand the production capacity or develop derivative products and new mixtures of picoxystrobin, which will enrich the product lines to meet the diverse market needs.

Beside Corteva Agriscience India Pvt. Ltd, and ten other companies, including UPL, Bharat Rasayan, Indogulf Cropsciences, Crystal Crop Protection, Best Crop Science LLP, Ichiban Crop Science, Indofil Industries, Shogun Organics, Heranba Industries, and Insecticides (India), are in possession of picoxystrobin technical registrations. 

Corteva’s picoxystrobin formulation registrations in India include picoxystrobin 22.52% SC, the mixtures picoxystrobin 7.05% + propiconazole 11.71% and picoxystrobin 6.78% + tricyclazole 20.33%. 

Export Volume (Ton)

Checking of the Customs data shows that in recent years, India’s export of picoxystrobin has been increasing since 2023, with 514.655 tons of technical material being exported in 2023; In 2024, the export already reached 231.947 tons, up to date. The export destinations include the United States, South Korea, and Panama.

China: Localized pyroxystrobin production is growing steadily

The pyroxystrobin compound patent in China under ref CN1020391B expired in 2008. In 2012, DuPont (now Corteva) was granted both technical and formulation registrations in China. In 2017, Hebei Sannong Agrochemical Co., Ltd became the first Chinese picoxystrobin TC registrant. Thereafter, the process of localized production of picoxystrobin in China has accelerated. 

According to the China Pesticide Information Network, there are currently 11 valid picoxystrobin registrations in China. Besides Corteva, other registrants include prime pesticide companies or their subsidiaries, such as Zhongshan Chemical, Rainbow, Yangnong Chemical, Dalian Join King, and Yifan Biotechnology. 

Reg No.	Name	Category	Type	Content	Validity	Registrant
PD20182604	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	97%	27-06-2028	Inner Mongolia Jiaruimi Fine Chemical
PD20181841	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	98%	16-05-2028	Rainbow
PD20181549	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	97%	17-04-2028	Zhongshan Chemical
PD20180894	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	97%	15-03-2028	Hebei Shanli Tech
PD20180879	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	97%	15-03-2028	Jiangsu FOPIA
PD20180751	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	97%	08-02-2028	Ningxia Yifan Biotech
PD20180514	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	98%	08-02-2028	Liaoning Huludao Lingyun Group
PD20180439	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	97%	08-02-2028	Jiangxi Oushi Chemical
PD20121671	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	97%	04-11-2027	Corteva
PD20172615	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	97%	17-10-2027	Yangnong Chemical
PD20170792	Picoxystrobin	Fungicide	TC	97%	08-05-2027	Hebei Sannong

In terms of formulation registration, there are currently 44 picoxystrobin formulation registrations in China, including 15 single agents and 29 mixtures. Most of these mixtures are formulated with propiconazole, cyproconazole, tebuconazole, difenoconazole and bromothalonil. Among the types of registration, SC formulation takes the lead, covering 31 products in total, followed by WDG with seven registrations. However, there are only a few registrations of CS, GR, ME, and EW formulations. 

The registrations cover dozens of crops for application, including wheat, rice, cucumber, pepper, tomato, potato, banana, mango, tea tree, and apple tree, for control of powdery mildew, rust, gibberellic disease, false smut, sheath blight, downy mildew, gray mold, leaf spot, anthracnose, scab and early blight.

To strengthen and expand the formulation market, Chinese enterprises have focused their efforts on differentiation and formulation innovation. Taking Zhongshan Chemical as an example, the company launched two mixtures in 2024, which are respectively Picoxystrobin + Flutriafol 51% SC and Picoxystrobin + Cyproconazole 60% WDG, as being mixed with two triazole fungicides of high activity and excellent efficacy acting on different stages of fungal infection, with protective, curative and killing multiple effects. In addition, the company is expecting grant of registration of its Picoxystrobin + Chunleimycin 15% SC in April 2025, thus extending the application of picoxystrobin to cash crops like cucumber and tomato. 

Significant increase of production capacity in last 2 years, totaling to annually 6,600 tons

In the last two years, particularly in 2024, Chinese pesticide manufacturers have significantly increased the capacity of pyroxystrobin and its associated product. According to open information, a total of 6,600 tons of technical material and 1,000 tons of intermediates were built in the year, which shows the optimistic expectation and the promising future of picoxystrobin in the eyes of Chinese enterprises.

Inner Mongolia Yongtai Chemical, a subsidiary of Yongtai Technology, announced its annual 15,100-ton crop protection projects. The EIA information indicated inclusion of a newbuild of an annual 1,000-ton picoxystrobin production line in the low-carbon industrial park of Wuhai High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Inner Mongolia.

Inner Mongolia Jiaruimi Fine Chemical Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Dalian Join King, is planning to launch an annual 2,000-ton picoxystrobin project in its existing plant area within the Wuhai Wuda High-tech Industrial Development Zone.

Jiangxi Oushi Chemical Co., Ltd announced the renovation of its annual 15,000-ton thiamethoxam and lufenuron project, which includes the building of an annual 2,000-ton picoxystrobin facility in the existing plant area within Xin’gan County Salt Chemical Industrial Zone, Ji’an City, Jiangxi Province. In October 2024, Jiangxi Oushi Chemical announced the completion acceptance of the 500-ton picoxystrobin capacity (Phase I) out of the annual 2,000-ton picoxystrobin project. 

Jiangxi Heyi Chemical Co., Ltd has planned the renovation of an annual 7,000-ton high-efficient and low-toxic pesticide plant in the company’s southern plant area, Jishan Industrial Park, Pengze Industrial Zone, Jiangxi Province. The project's EIA information shows that the project content includes an annual 1,000-ton picoxystrobin facility. 

The annual 9,000-ton chemical intermediate upgrading project of Zhejiang Avilive Chemical, located in Hengdian, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province, has included the newbuild of an annual 1,000-ton intermediate capacity to support the production of the fungicidal picoxystrobin—Methyl(E)-2-[2-(6-chloropyrimidin-4-yloxy)phenyl]-3-methoxyacrylate. 

In addition to the above-mentioned companies announcing newbuild or completions of the picoxystrobin capacity in the last two years, open information shows that the planned technical material new capacity and the adjuvant renovation project of Hebei Lanrun Plant Protection Technology Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Lansheng Biotechnology, included an annual 100-ton picoxystrobin technical production capacity. In 2019, in the environmental impact assessment, Rainbow announced the launch of an annual 6,500-ton insecticide and fungicide project, along with an annual 4,000-ton herbicide project, which contained a 500-ton picoxystrobin capacity. 

Future growth potential of picoxystrobin

According to Phillips, the Brazilian soybean market undertakes the most significant application of picoxystrobin, which is worth roughly $200 million. More than 3,000 tons are consumed worldwide, of which about 2,100 tons are consumed by Brazilian soybeans; approximately 46 million hectares worldwide are applied with picoxystrobin, including approximately 34 million hectares of Brazilian soybeans.

Corteva’s continued launch of new products reinforces its critical markets like Latin America.

In 2006, after being acquired by DuPont, the market potential of picoxystrobin was fully realized, followed by widespread registration in Latin America and North America, particularly after the successful promotion and application of Aproach Prima, a product formulated with Cyproconazole, which was used to control soybean rust successfully in Brazil. Moreover, the fungicide formulation Vessarya, a mixture of picoxystrobin with benzovindiflupyr, was launched at the right time, which paved the way for Corteva’s soybean-targeted fungicide marketing in Latin America.

In February 2020, Corteva unified its global brand name of picoxystrobin and announced the international trade name of the product—Onmira™ active.

The Latin American market is Corteva’s primary market, where Corteva’s products perform exceptionally well against soybean rust, which is a good foundation laid by DuPont in the early days. Also, Corteva has launched a number of new products over the years to reinforce its market position in the region. In addition to the continued promotion of the Vessarya series (Pyroxystrobin + Benzovindiflupyr) to Latin American countries such as Paraguay, Corteva has launched to Brazil the soybean fungicide Viovan (Pyroxystrobin + Prothioconazole) and Aproach Power (Pyroxystrobin + Cyproconazole), for control of Asian rust and other diseases like target spot, brown spot, cercospora, and powdery mildew. In 2023, Corteva improved the efficacy of Vessarya, which was granted registration in Brazil for control of the high-incidence soybean anthracnose on Brazilian crops. In September 2024, Corteva launched to Brazil its novel seed-treating fungicide, LumiTreo, which contains three active ingredients - oxathiapiprolin, picoxystrobin, and ipconazole. LumiTreo has an outstanding effect of controlling soybean root rot and damping off, being also effective for control of other major soybean diseases such as fusarium root rot, anthracnose, dry rot, phytophthora root rot, and oomycetes.

In addition to Latin America, Corteva has made product layouts in the United States, Canada, and other North American regions. In April 2020, Corteva launched the fungicide Cerefit™ (Picoxystrobin 250 g/L SC) in Canada for the protection of barley and oats by controlling major leaf diseases, as applied in the early stages of growth. In March 2023, Corteva launched the fungicide Viatude (Pyroxystrobin + Prothioconazole) in Canada for the protection of canola and soybean from sclerotinia and white mildew. In August 2023, Corteva launched Viatude™ in the United States, which contains picoxystrobin and prothioconazole for effective control of soybean southern blight while also being applicable to canola.

It is worth noting that prothioconazole and picoxystrobin are both key active ingredients for controlling soybean diseases in Brazil. Apart from Corteva, multinational companies such as ADAMA and Sumitomo Chemical have launched a number of products containing picoxystrobin.

In 2018, ADAMA introduced its CRONNOS^®, which contains pyroxystrobin (Tebuconazole+ Mancozeb + Pyroxystrobin), into the Brazilian market for control of soybean rust. In May 2024, ADAMA was granted four fungicide registrations in Brazil, which include Blindado TOV (Pyroxystrobin + Tebuconazole + Mancozeb), aiming at disease management against leaf spot, target spot, and rust throughout the life cycle of growth of soybean. This product offers further control over soybean diseases, thus improving crop growth and yield. 

In September 2024, Sumitomo Chemical launched its novel fungicide Pladius (Inpyrfluxam + Difenoconazole + Pyroxystrobin) in Brazil, being recommended for use in the control of cotton leaf spot. This product is an enhancement of the company’s cotton product portfolio (acaricide Smite, herbicide Resource, and insecticide Legion).

China and India – Great potential of pyroxystrobin

In the global agrochemical market, the European Union announced that registration renewals for picoxystrobin would be suspended beginning in 2017. Nevertheless, the product has gained widespread recognition thanks to its excellent performance in protecting grain crops.

Looking ahead, India and China are seen as the most promising markets for pyroxystrobin. India’s picoxystrobin industry chain already shows a lot of synergy. The Indian companies are expected to scale up production in order to capture a larger share of the global market. In contrast, the Chinese picoxystrobin industry is slightly falling behind with respect to the formation of synergy, but the development of formulations is more diversified, which is reflected by the diversity of crops for application, targets of control, and type of formulations. For example, Zhongshan Chemical is digging into more potentials of pyroxystrobin products, focusing on the extension of the application to the field crops such as rice, wheat, and corn, as well as the cash crops like tomato and cucumber, in a purpose to strengthen the prevention and control of rice false smut and rice blast while improving crop health and yield. Furthermore, the company is prepared to expand the application to fruit trees, including citrus, apple, and banana. The rest of the manufacturers of pyroxystrobin, such as Dalian Join King and Tianjin Junkai Chemical, have been very active in market development. 

As a mature product developed for many years, picoxystrobin registrations are currently quite limited. However, in the last two years, the potential of mixtures has been constantly explored, which allows for the extension of application to more high-value-added crops to the benefit of cost reduction. In light of its superior performance, picoxystrobin is expected to play an important role in the future fungicide market as registration and capacity increase.