2024 India’s Pesticide registration Watch: A Microcosm of Global Crop Protection Market

As one of the world’s major pesticide markets, India’s pesticide registration and approval system has a direct impact on the safety and sustainable development of its entire agricultural ecosystem. In the first half of 2024, the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC) of India held its 453rd to 457th meetings, approving 416 product agendas, which included 333 technical material (TC) registrations and 83 formulation registrations. This article provides a brief analysis of the overall state of the pesticide registration market in India during the first half of 2024, focusing on key generic products and novel active ingredients, while also exploring the strategies of multinationals in the local market, offering valuable insights for industry development.

• A total of 333 TC registrations were approved in the first half of the year, involving 118 active molecules.

In terms of the number and proportion of TC registrations, traditional insecticides such as Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, and Cartap hydrochloride continue to hold a significant market share, accounting for 3.9% (13), 3.3% (11), and 3.3% (11) respectively. This reflects the ongoing demand for these established products in the Indian market. Additionally, UPL led the registration of Imidacloprid, underscoring the company’s strong position in the Indian market.

Simultaneously, we observed the registration of several novel active ingredients, including Dicloromezotiaz registered by India’s PI Industries, Pydiflumetofen by Syngenta, and Triflumezopyrim by India’s DECCAN. The registration of these products signals a growing demand for innovative pesticides in the Indian market and highlights the collaboration and competition between multinationals and local companies in the field of innovation.

• A total of 83 formulation registrations were approved, involving 80 active molecules.

In formulation registrations, Chlorantraniliprole leads with a market share of 8.22% (12), with several multinationals such as UPL, Syngenta, ADAMA, and FMC playing significant roles in its registration. This indicates the widespread application and strong demand for this product in the Indian market. Mancozeb, Pyraclostrobin, and Fipronil follow closely with shares of 4.79% (7), 4.11% (6), and 3.42% (5) respectively, demonstrating the sustained popularity of these traditional products in the Indian market.

For detailed registration information, please refer to the annexes hereto.

Novel active ingredients: New market opportunities

In the first half of 2024, the registration of several patented active ingredients has injected new vitality into the Indian pesticide market. Among these, the registration of novel active ingredients such as Dicloromezotiaz, Pydiflumetofen, Triflumezopyrim, and Triafamone has attracted considerable attention.

Table 1: New pesticide active ingredients registered in India in H1 2024

Pydiflumetofen TC is registered by Syngenta, the originating company. As a popular fungicide in recent years, Pydiflumetofen is the fourth SDHI-class fungicide launched by Syngenta, following Isopyrazam, Sedaxane, and Benzovindiflupyr. It can be applied to various crops to control diseases like powdery mildew, leaf spot, and brown spot. Currently, this product has been registered and marketed in over 50 countries worldwide, achieving impressive sales in the U.S., Canada, China, and Argentina. Syngenta anticipates that annual peak sales of Pydiflumetofen will exceed US$1 billion, positioning it to become another leading fungicide in the market after Azoxystrobin.

Triflumezopyrim is registered by the Indian local company Deccan Fine Chemicals. Developed by DuPont (now Corteva), Triflumezopyrim is the first commercialized mesoionic pyrimidinone insecticide, primarily targeting rice pests, particularly resistant brown planthoppers, with the Asia-Pacific region being its main registration market. To date, Triflumezopyrim has not yet received registration approval in some developed countries and regions such as the EU, Australia, and New Zealand. The registration of this technical product by Deccan marks it as the first company in India to obtain approval for this novel mesoionic insecticide. This breakthrough not only highlights the R&D capabilities of Indian companies but also opens up new development opportunities in the Indian pesticide market.

In addition to Triflumezopyrim, another mesoionic insecticide, Dicloromezotiaz, is registered for the first time in India by PI Industries. This class of insecticides features a unique mode of action and lower resistance risk. With the registration of Triflumezopyrim and Dicloromezotiaz in India, mesoionic insecticides are expected to secure a foothold in the Indian market.

Triafamone is registered for the first time in India by Bayer, the originator company. As the second sulfonylurea herbicide developed and launched after Pyrifluquinazon, it primarily targets grassy weeds, sedges, and broadleaf weeds in rice paddies. In 2016, Triafamone was registered in Japan, where it is mostly available in formulated products. Currently, this herbicide is still in the early stages of development and has not yet been registered in countries and regions such as the U.S., European Union, Canada, and Australia.

Additionally, Cyantraniliprole and Indaziflam, with their patents having just expired in 2024, are noteworthy in the Indian market.

Cyantraniliprole TC is registered by FMC and India’s Natco Pharma. Cyantraniliprole was originally developed by DuPont and later acquired by FMC along with Chlorantraniliprole. Compared to Chlorantraniliprole, Cyantraniliprole is more efficient and has a broader spectrum of activity, effectively controlling Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera pests. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified it as a ″low-risk″ pesticide, highlighting its environmentally friendly attributes. According to IHS Markit, the global sales of Cyantraniliprole reached US$216 million in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate of 17.06% from 2014 to 2021. FMC anticipates that the annual sales peak for Cyantraniliprole will exceed US$500 million, indicating its significant potential in the global market.

Indaziflam is registered by Bayer, the originator company. Indaziflam is the latest triazine herbicide developed and introduced by Bayer. This product has a broad herbicidal spectrum, effective against over 80 species of grassy weeds, broadleaf weeds, and sedges, and can be used to control resistant weeds, particularly glyphosate-resistant ones. The registration of Indaziflam in the Indian market offers farmers a new herbicide option, especially in light of increasingly severe weed resistance issues. This product has already been utilized in several countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Brazil. Bayer anticipates its annual sales peak could reach US$220 million.

Examining new market directions from the strategic layout of multinationals

Table 2: Pesticides registered by multinationals

Based on the registration layouts of multinationals mentioned above, the following characteristics can be observed:

The significance of SDHI fungicides is increasingly pronounced. Several multinationals, including Syngenta, Bayer, and BASF, have focused their registrations on SDHI products such as Sedaxane, Penflufen, and Fluxapyroxad. These fungicides are receiving more global attention due to their unique modes of action, broad-spectrum efficacy, and excellent translaminar and systemic activity. They not only effectively control a wide range of crop diseases but also tackle resistance issues posed by certain pathogens, showcasing substantial market potential. The concentrated registration of SDHI fungicides in the Indian market suggests that these products may play an increasingly vital role in agricultural production in India in the coming years.

Product diversification addresses diverse needs. The registered products demonstrate significant diversity, aimed at meeting the varied needs of different crops and pest management. In the insecticide category, there is a range of products with various modes of action, from traditional organophosphates to innovative options like Chlorantraniliprole and Cyantraniliprole. In the herbicide category, both traditional varieties such as Glyphosate and novel alternatives like Triafamone are included. This trend of product diversification reflects the efforts of agrochemical companies to provide comprehensive crop protection solutions to farmers in response to the complex and evolving threats posed by pests and diseases.

Formulation innovations continue to advance. From these registrations, we see the widespread application of new formulations such as water-dispersible granules (WG), aqueous suspension concentrates (SC), and oil dispersions (OD). These innovative formulations aim to enhance product usability and improve the bioavailability of pesticides, thereby reducing application rates and minimizing environmental impact. For instance, Syngenta’s ″Spiropidion 30% + Acetamiprid 24% WG″ and BASF’s ″Fluxapyroxad 250 g/L + Pyraclostrobin 250 g/L SC″ exemplify this trend of innovation. The ongoing evolution of formulations is providing new possibilities for the efficient and safe use of pesticides.

Differentiated strategies between originator companies and generic companies. In terms of market strategies, originator companies and generic companies exhibit distinct focuses in their approaches. Major originator companies such as Syngenta, Bayer, and BASF primarily focus on developing and registering high-value-added products, particularly investing heavily in SDHI fungicides and insecticides with novel modes of action. Concurrently, these companies place considerable emphasis on the development of formulated products, offering more comprehensive pest and disease management solutions through the combination of different active ingredients. In contrast, generic companies like UPL adopt a broader product line strategy.

As a leading global player in generic pesticides, UPL’s registration strategy in the Indian market showcases comprehensive layout and deep localization. The company has registered multiple technical materials, including Fenhexamid and Glyphosate, along with a rich formulation product line covering various areas such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. Notably, Fenhexamid, as a generic product, makes its debut in India this year. This product is a novel systemic and protective amide fungicide developed by Bayer in 1989, commercialized in 1998, primarily used for controlling gray mold, sclerotinia, and black spot diseases. It reportedly exhibits some activity against certain resistant pathogens.

The development of green pesticides is emerging as a new direction. Although they represent a small proportion of registrations, the introduction of biological pesticide products like Spinosad registered by UPL reflects the growing market demand for environmentally friendly products. This trend aligns with the global movement towards sustainable agricultural development and indicates that green, biological pesticides may occupy a more significant position in both the Indian and global markets in the future.

Summary and Outlook

The registration data for the Indian pesticide market in the first half of 2024 not only reflects current market dynamics but also serves as a microcosm of the global agrochemical industry’s development direction, specifically manifested in the following key points:

1. Coexistence of innovative and traditional products: Both new, highly efficient, low-toxicity pesticides and traditional products are popular, providing opportunities for various types of companies.

2. Rise of SDHI fungicides: These fungicides have become a focal point of competition among global agrochemical giants and are expected to occupy a more prominent position in the Indian market.

3. Potential of biological pesticides: Although currently a small market share, the demand for sustainable agriculture is increasing, indicating broad future development prospects for them.

4. Innovation in formulations: New formulation types enhance usability and bioavailability while reducing environmental pollution.

5. Differentiated strategies of companies: Originator companies focus on high-value-added products, while generic companies adopt a comprehensive layout strategy, promoting market diversification.

6. Growth of local Indian companies: These companies demonstrate research and development capabilities and innovation potential, enhancing overall competitiveness.

7. Stability of traditional products: These products maintain their stability and reliability in the market.

In conclusion, the registration data from India offers agrochemical companies crucial insights into future development directions. As India is a significant producer and consumer of pesticides globally, these trends will not only impact the local Indian market but also shape the future landscape of the pesticide industry worldwide, driving global agriculture towards greater efficiency and sustainability.

Annex 1: Registration of active ingredients in part of technical

Annex 2: Registration of active ingredients in part of formulations

This story was initially published in the 2024 India Focus. Download the magazine to read more stories.

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