Japanese rice herbicide usage
Date:08-28-2008
Rice herbicide applications in Japan in 2007 totalled 30,124 tonnes on 2.8 million ha (including multiple applications), estimates the Japan Association for Advancement of Phyto-Regulators (JAPR). The sector was worth some ¥52,372 million ($477 million at the current exchange rate), according to JAPR figures reported by Hokko Chemical Industry.
Rice herbicide usage continues to be dominated by one-shot applications, of which 17,951 tonnes were used on 1.7 million ha at a value of ¥39,584 million ($360 million) in 2007. Some 4,606 tonnes of rice herbicides were early-phase applications to 604,000 ha, valued at ¥5,757 million ($52 million), the JAPR says. Around 7,566 tonnes were middle and late-phase applications to 502,000 ha, valued at ¥7,031 million ($64 million).
The Japanese herbicide market in 2007 was hit by the continuing decline in the country's rice area, which was down by 1% to under 1.7 million ha. All major crops recorded lower areas for the year, according to Ministry of Agriculture figures. Falls of 3% were seen in wheat/barley, to 268,000 ha, and in soybeans, to 138,000 ha. Declines of 2% occurred in citrus fruit, to 82,000 ha, tea (48,000 ha) and apples (42,000 ha).
Smaller crop areas and adverse weather contributed to an overall reduction in the Japanese agrochemical market last year. In the year to September 30th 2007, Japanese pesticide sales fell by 1.6% to ¥319,359 million ($2,906 million at the current exchange rate), according to the Japan Crop Protection Association.
In formulation terms, wettable/soluble powders and flowables maintained their share of sales in 2007, at ¥56,000 million ($510 million) and ¥48,000 million ($437 million), respectively. Granules fell by 6.5% to ¥87,000 million ($792 million), emulsifiable concentrates and solution concentrates were down by 11% to ¥73,000 million ($664 million), while dry powders were 13.3% lower at ¥13,000 million ($118 million). Other formulation types increased by 16.2% to ¥43,000 million ($391 million).
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