Agrochemical sales in Brazil leapt by 35.7% to $5,310 million in 2007, according to the Brazilian generic agrochemical industry association, the AENDA. The huge rise in sales is a turnaround after falling sales in the two previous years. The sales also constitute a record high, exceeding the 2004 Brazilian pesticide market by 18.2% in nominal terms. It had lost over an eighth of its value in the two years to 2006 .
Rising agricultural prices have boosted volumes sales. They "excited" farmers, who sought to take all crop protection precautions, the AENDA's executive director, Tulio Oliveira said. Seed treatment volume sales clearly reflected the mood, he said. Farmers planted larger areas of sugar cane to meet the higher demand for bioethanol and increased maize and soybean plantings, he added. The cotton area was up by 23%.
The increased value of the Brazilian currency, the real, against the dollar accentuated the market rise. It was up by 17% against the dollar over the course of the year. The rising currency also heightened the price rise of the herbicide, glyphosate. It was up from $3.10/litre to $5.10/litre, Mr Oliveira said.
top companies
The top four companies each saw sales rise by more than a third. The leading 12 companies' sales each rose by more than 20%. Syngenta maintained top billing on the back of a 41.3% rise in sales of its agrochemicals in Brazil. It supplanted Bayer as the country's top agrochemical supplier in 2005.
Monsanto experienced the largest rise in sales at 45.2% and replaced DuPont as Brazil's fourth largest agrochemical company. Sales from the seven major companies accounted for 71.4% of the market.
The joint venture, Sipcam Isagro Brasil, saw its sales rise by over 80%. The Italian agrochemical companies formed the joint venture in mid-2006 . There were four new entries in the top 20: DVA Agro do Brasil, Oxyquimica, Prentiss and Rotam. Sales of the entrants were in the $11-32 million range.
Brazilian agchem sales by company ($ million)
Company 2006 % change 2007
Syngenta 690 +41.3 975
Bayer 537 +33.9 719
BASF 430 +40.5 604
Monsanto 310 +45.2 450
DuPont 317 +19.9 380
Milenia 259 +28.6 333
Dow 252 +31.0 330
FMC 244 +30.7 319
Agripec 172 +40.1 241
Nortox 160 +37.5 220
Iharabras 111 +34.2 149
Arysta (Hokko) 99 +40.4 139
Cheminova 104 +28.8 134
Sipcam Isagro Brasil 47 +80.9 85
Chemtura (Crompton) 43 +16.3 50
DVA na na 32
Oxyquimica na na 25
Atanor 32 -21.9 25
Prentiss na na 21
Helm 13 +61.5 21
Rotam na na 11
Cropchem na na 8
Sinon 11 -27.0 8
Cross Link na na 6
Others 45 na 25
Total 3,912 -35.7 5,310
na = not available or not applicable - number of companies
differs between years. Source: AENDA.
outlook
Industry expects further rises in 2008, but at a more modest pace. A recent report predicted 8% growth for the Brazilian agrochemical market this year