Chinese pesticide exports over the first ten months of 2007 increased by 43.6% over the same period last year to $2,579.1 million, as per figures provided by the Chinese Agriculture Ministry's Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals (ICAMA). In volume terms, the total exports of 704,300 tonnes displayed an increase of 26.5%. The second half of the year seems to have been a boom time for Chinese exports as the figure for the first half was a mere 247,300 tonnes, amounting to $653 million.
Imports for the ten months went down by 12.1% to $134.4 million. In volume terms, they were down by 13.1% to 24,700 tonnes.
Herbicides accounted for over half (53%) of exports, while insecticides contributed 28% and fungicides 12%. China exported to 155 countries over the period. Asia was the most important destination, accounting for 43% of total export value. Latin America was the fastest growing market for Chinese exports, exhibiting an increase of 73.4% in value terms. The region accounted for 22.5% of Chinese exports in value terms.
Chinese agchem exports by region Jan-Oct 2007
Value Volume
Region $ million % chg(1) tonnes % chg(1)
Asia 1,110.30 +36.3 323.1 +22.2
Latin America 579.5 +73.4 168.1 +44.1
Europe 347.2 +35.7 67.3 +24.5
North America 291.1 +50.6 59.2 +26.2
Africa 158.5 +22.6 66.8 +13.1
Oceania 92.7 +33.2 19.9 +24.9
Total 2,579.1(2) +43.6(2) 704.3(2) +26.5(2)
(1) compared with Jan-Oct 2006; (2) figures may not add up due to
rounding; Source: ICAMA
The US was the largest importer of Chinese pesticides, accounting for 11.3% of value. Argentina came in second with 8.5%.
Chinese agchem exports top 10 countries Jan-Oct 2007
Country Value ($ million) Volume ('000 tonnes)
US 290.2 58.9
Argentina 219.0 67.0
Thailand 163.0 60.2
Israel 128.1 26.0
Indonesia 105.4 31.8
Vietnam 95.4 33.2
Australia 81.6 17.0
India 80.4 19.2
Pakistan 74.3 20.2
Malaysia 73.2 21.0
Singapore 69.1 16.5
Source: ICAMA
The largest selling pesticide in the Chinese export basket was the herbicide glyphosate, which accounted for more than half (25.3%) of total exports. The largest increase in exports over the same period last year was seen in the glyphosate intermediate, phosphonomethyl iminodiacetic acid (PMIDA). Its exports more than doubled.
Chinese agchem exports top 10 ais Jan-Oct 2007
Value Volume
ais $ million % chg(1) tonnes % chg(1)
Glyphosate 651.3 81.7 219.7 34.2
Paraquat 113.3 32.2 41.4 16.4
PMIDA 97.6 > 100 40.2 79.4
Imidacloprid 68.5 68.9 8.5 43.8
Atrazine 62.7 81.9 27.8 81.6
Carbendazim 53.0 30.8 16.2 3.2
Abamectin 38.2 19.9 5.5 16.1
Metribuzin 37.5 52.8 2.9 47.7
Carbofuron 32.5 18.1 9.4 18.1
Tebuconazole 31.4 32.1 3.3 46.1
(1) compared with Jan-Oct 2006; Source: ICAMA