Herbicide Market, Analysis By Type (Synthetic [Glyphosate, Atrazine, Paraquat, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, Others] and Bioherbicides), By Mode of Action (Selective Herbicides and Non-selective Herbicides), By Crop Type (Grains and Cereals, Pulses and Oilseeds, Fruits and Vegetables, Turfs and Ornamentals), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The demand for herbicides in agriculture has been rising owing to its increasing adoption across the globe. Herbicides are being used to replace tillage, which improves environmental conditions. Furthermore, compared to tillage, herbicide use reduces erosion, fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient run-off and conserves water. According to National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center (China), in 2021, the use of pesticide products was 248,000 tons, which included 104,000 tons of herbicides, accounting for 41.9% of the total amount.

Moreover, growing weed infestation resulting in reduced crop yield and quality also propels the demand for herbicides in the market. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the actual yield loss due to weeds accounts for 25.6%, and potential yield loss is as high as 65.9%. With the increasing demand for herbicides, key players in the market are focusing on diversifying their product portfolios to improve land productivity and reduce weed loss, boosting the herbicide market growth.

Impact of COVID-19 

The outbreak of COVID-19 moderately impacted the agricultural sector, affecting the availability of key intermediate inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, and others. China is known to be one of the major producers of fertilizers and pesticide products. Therefore, the closure of Chinese factories led to a massive shortage in the supply of such products. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), pesticide production declined sharply in China. It resumed gradually after production plants were shut down following the outbreak. Owing to these significant problems in the supply chains, crop pesticides and other products reported lower sales than the previous year, causing a decline in market value.

HERBICIDE MARKET SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

Key Insights

The report will cover the following key insights:

• The product launched by key market players – for herbicide market


• Overview of the herbicide industry


• Impact of COVID-19 on the market


• Drivers of the market


• Applications of herbicides in various crops

Analysis by Type

The synthetic segment is expected to hold a significant global herbicide market share. Synthetic herbicides have the potential to impact plant disease by several mechanisms. Synthetic herbicides are in demand owing to their effectiveness and inexpensiveness. Synthetic herbicides include glyphosate, atrazine, paraquat, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and others. Glyphosate and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid are the most extensively used herbicides worldwide due to their low cost, efficiency, plant development, and use in weed control.

The bioherbicides segment is expected to grow at a high CAGR over the forecast period owing to the growing adaptation of organic, sustainable, regenerative agriculture practices. The players are, therefore, focusing on strategies to develop bioherbicide solutions. For instance, in December 2022, FMC Corporation, one of the leading agricultural sciences companies, partnered with Micropep Technologies, one of the leading micro peptide technology companies, to develop biological solutions to control destructive herbicide-resistant weeds which reduce crop yields. 

Analysis by Mode of Action

The non-selective herbicides segment is expected to hold a significant share of the global herbicide industry. Non-selective herbicides are also called broad-spectrum herbicides designed to kill or damage all plants that come in contact with them. They also remove unwanted vegetation from orchards, vineyards, and plantations.

The selective herbicides segment is expected to grow at a high CAGR over the forecast period. 2,4 D is the most commonly used selective herbicide and is available in various forms such as powder and sprays. Selective herbicides are less harmful to the environment when appropriately used and kill weeds but do not kill the valuable plant. Key players in the market are launching new products to improve the export potential of the product. For instance, in January 2023, India Pesticides Limited, an Indian agrochemicals and active pharma ingredients company, launched Herbicide Technical, a selective systemic herbicide. The company also launched one more selective systemic herbicide, which helps control grass and certain broad-leaves weeds in the pre-or early post-emergence stages.

Analysis by Crop Type

The grains and cereals segment is expected to hold a significant share of the global market owing to the high adoption rate of crop protection products in cereals. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), world cereal production is projected to increase to 17% by 2031, marginally. Furthermore, the rising global population has further propelled high demand for crops and an increased focus on food security, thereby contributing to the growth of the herbicide market. The players in the market innovate products to meet the increasing demand. For instance, in January 2022, Adama Agricultural Solutions, a crop protection company, launched two new rice herbicides, Diverge Silk and Diverge EC. The new products provide rice growers with improved quality and handling for reliable weed control.

The fruits and vegetables segment is expected to grow at a high CAGR over the forecast period. Fruits and vegetables are majorly grown crops in India, China, and Japan, and they involve a very high usage rate of pesticides such as herbicides. Furthermore, the rising export potential, limited availability of arable land, and rising growth in the horticulture and floriculture sector further surge the demand for herbicides in the market.

Analysis by Region

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Asia Pacific is expected to hold a significant global herbicide market share. The increasing production of cereals and the rising adoption of better farming practices in the region are predicted to drive market growth. China, India, and Japan are the major users of herbicide products owing to large agricultural areas under cultivation and the rising feeding population. Sugarcane is known to be an important commercial crop in India; therefore, managing weeds in such crops becomes a crucial task for farmers. According to S NIJALINGAPPA SUGAR INSTITUTE Belagavi, in sugarcane crops, if weeds are not controlled properly at the initial stages, the yield loss could go up to 17.5 t/ha. Therefore, crop protection players in the region formulate herbicide products to support sugarcane farmers. For instance, in June 2022, FMC India, an agricultural sciences company, launched a new pre-emergent herbicide, Austral. The new product provides broad-spectrum weed control in the critical growth stage of sugarcane, which improves the yield of the crop.

North America is expected to grow at a high CAGR over the forecast period. The transforming agricultural practices, environmental regulations, and changing crop mix trends are the factors fueling the North America herbicide industry.

Europe is expected to grow at a substantial rate over the forecast period. The regional market is driven by the need to increase crop yield and efficiency. Therefore, farmers in the region adopt new farming practices to increase crop yield, paving the way for the herbicide market.

Key Market Players

• BASF-SE


• Corteva Agriscience


• UPL Ltd.


• Syngenta International AG


• Bayer Crop Science


• Nissan Chemical Corporation


• DowDuPont, Arysta


• Israel Chemicals Ltd.


• Drexel Chemical

Key Industry Developments

• In March 2023, Corteva Agriscience, a major American agricultural chemical and seed company, launched four new crop protection herbicides, including Enversa herbicide, Tolvera herbicide, Kyro herbicide, and Utrisha P.

In February 2023, ADAMA Canada introduced a new crop protection product named DAVAI A PLUS, a broad-spectrum herbicide for imidazolinone-tolerant lentils, peas, and soybeans.