Generics impact US specialty pesticides
Date:04-17-2008
A “proliferation” of low-cost generic products contributed to an 8.1% decline in US sales of pesticides for use on turf and ornamentals to $813.4 million at the manufacturer level in 2007. Sales of generic products amounted to some $92 million, or 11.3% of the total, according to the latest analysis of the sector by Specialty Products Consultants (SPC _ Mendham, New Jersey).
While generic products make up a relatively small proportion of total sales, their impact on the overall market has been “huge”, SPC’s Gary Curl points out. Pesticide manufacturers were forced to reduce prices and take other measures to hold market share, he adds. Other factors impacting the market last year were sluggish economic growth and the weak housing sector. All categories of turf and ornamental pesticides declined in 2007, with the exception of post-emergence herbicides.
There was a 10% increase in the number of pesticide brands being offered in the professional turf and ornamental sector last year. SPC’s latest analysis includes sales data on more than 330 pesticide brands and profiles 25 leading suppliers.
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