Crop Protection Chemicals Market Size and Growth Analysis by Type (Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides), Application (Cereals, Maize, Sugar Crops, Wheat) – Forecast to 2030

Market Overview

The global crop protection chemicals market size stood at $78,407.3 million in 2021. This number is expected to increase to $117,436.6 million by 2030, advancing at a CAGR of 4.6% during 2021–2030. This can be ascribed to the increase in population, food security, limited agricultural land, and surge in the need for enhanced crop production to improve crop yields.

Moreover, the rapidly growing population is creating immense pressure on farmers to enhance the productivity of agricultural farmlands and related installations. Owing to this, advancements in farming technologies, coupled with the use of agrochemicals (such as herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides) and adjuvants, serve as a key solution to this conundrum. Therefore, such factors are expected to propel the demand for these chemicals, in order to improve yields, which, in turn, will benefit the market.

Herbicides Contribute the Largest Revenue to the Market

The sales of herbicides generated the largest revenue, around $40 billion, in 2021 in the market, as these are used to manipulate or control undesirable vegetation and promote the growth of desirable species. Moreover, these chemicals are most common in row-crop farming, in which these are used prior to or even during planting to enhance crop production while reducing other vegetations.

Also, these chemicals are utilized in forest management to prepare logged areas for replanting and applied on water bodies to control aquatic weeds. Due to the vast application base, these chemicals account for the largest revenue share in the market. Furthermore, the growth in demand for herbicides can be ascribed to the fact that adjuvants in the agricultural sector envisage high economic advantages to farmlands and agricultural installations, and their high-volume consumption across the globe.

Insecticides are other important crop protection chemical. These are extensively applied in the production of staple crops, due to their susceptibility to insect infestation. The development of integrated pest management strategies in industrialized nations has significantly reduced farmers' reliance on insecticides. However, their demand is projected to be high throughout developing nations.

Cereals Are Major Contributor to the Market

The cereals category is the fastest and the largest revenue contributor to the crop protection chemicals market, advancing at a CAGR of over 5% during 2021–2030. The rising demand for food stock for the massive population is a key factor behind the cultivation of cereals on a large scale. Cereal production has increased significantly in this decade, as people become more conscious of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and fulfilling their dietary needs.

Furthermore, with the rising global population, along with the scarcity of land for crop cultivation, there is an increased pressure to maximize the crop yield, primarily cereals and grains, from existing farmlands and agricultural installations. Moreover, in order to consume the required nutrition, the demand for cereals is rising at a significant rate. Thus, these factors are propelling the market growth.

Adoption of Organic Farming Is an Emerging Market Trend

The adoption of organic farming is a major trend observed in the market. This type of farming has numerous benefits, including the avoidance of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetic modification. For organic agricultural processes, biopesticides are gaining high demand. This is because these biochemicals control pests in crop fields with negligible side effects, as these are derived from natural materials such as plants, animals, bacteria, and certain minerals.

The surging need for “green” or safer products (products with less synthetic chemicals) rises day by day, which leads several companies to take various steps to develop and manufacture a variety of biopesticides, which help in enhancing their market share. This results in the availability of many new environment-friendly weed management products, which are also gaining popularity across the world. They came in limelight due to their characteristics, such as they are not active in the environment for a long time and are less likely to cause soil and water contamination.

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APAC Leads the Market

The APAC crop protection chemicals market accounted for the largest revenue share, over 40%, in 2021, and it is further expected to witness the same trend during the forecast period. This is ascribed to the substantial agricultural base, extensive farmland, and rise in awareness of pesticide use, in the region. Furthermore, the regional market expansion is fueled by technical advancements in the field of agriculture and rise in demand for crops and their cultivation throughout the region.

The APAC market is also expected to demonstrate the fastest growth during the forecast period, primarily on account of the rapidly increasing usage of such agrochemicals in developing countries. China and India are the two most populous nations in the world, and accounted for around 19.0% and 18.0% of the global population, respectively, as of 2020. Furthermore, by 2050, these countries are expected to add an additional 2.3 billion people to the global population. The increase in population is expected to stimulate the demand for food, to meet the per capita food and nutritional requirements, which, in turn, will boost the market at a rapid pace.

High Investment in Research and Development

Pests are always a major problem for farmers along with the ever-changing environment. To increase crop yields and reduce the risk of crop damage, pesticides are being developed by several companies. To develop these crop protection chemicals, the companies have invested a huge amount in R&D; and also have collaborated and partnered with many universities, research institutions, and industry experts. For instance, in 2021, Syngenta Crop Protection AG invested $1.3 billion in R&D to develop crop protection solutions and hybrid seeds. Such investments in the R&D in the field of crop protection chemicals help promote the market growth.

Strategic Developments by Market Players To Gain Competitive Edge

To maintain a strong position in the crop protection chemicals market, players have adopted a number of strategies, including product launches, acquisitions, investments, collaborations, and partnerships. For instance:

• In January 2022, Syngenta Crop Protection AG acquired two next-generation bioinsecticides, NemaTrident and UniSpore, from Bionema Limited.
• In March 2021, Bayer AG introduced its latest biological and pheromone-based crop protection product named Vynyty Citrus to control pests on citrus farms during the International Symposium on Horticulture in Europe, SHE2021.

Top Producers of Crop Protection Chemicals:

• BASF SE
• The Dow Chemical Company
• DuPont de Nemours Inc.
• Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.
• Syngenta Crop Protection AG
• Bayer AG
• FMC Corporation
• Bioworks Inc.
• UPL Limited

Market Size Breakdown by Segment

The research offers the market size of the global crop protection chemicals market for the period 2017–2030.

Based on Type

• Herbicides
• Insecticides
• Fungicides

Based on Application

• Cereals
• Maize
• Sugar Crops
• Wheat

Geographical Analysis

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • U.K.
  • Italy
  • Spain
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • South Korea
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
• Middle East and Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa