A registration boom for spirotetramat is on the horizon, with promising market prospects.

　　Recently, at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Pesticide The Testing Institute has announced the sixth batch of proposed approvals for 2018. Pesticide Among the products listed in the public announcement, 17 spinetoram‑related formulations are expected to receive registration approval. Clearly, a wave of registration applications for spinetoram is imminent in China.

Although the compound patent for spirotetramat in China expired on July 22, 2017, that patent covered a mixture of its cis–trans isomers; the patent protecting the cis isomer—the form that actually exhibits insecticidal activity—will not expire until 2023. The active ingredient in the insecticides Mawangte (a 22.4% spirotetramat suspension concentrate) and Wente? (a 22% spirotetramat–thiamethoxam suspension concentrate) is precisely the cis isomer. Therefore, domestic companies seeking to launch products containing spirotetramat should continue to pay close attention to patent issues.

Unique mechanism of action

Spirotetramat is a lipid biosynthesis inhibitor (LBI). The International Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) classifies it as Group 23: acetyl‑CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, specifically quinone and quinone‑derived compounds. Spirotetramat inhibits the activity of ACCase during fatty acid synthesis in pests, disrupting lipid biosynthesis and blocking normal energy metabolism, ultimately leading to pest mortality.

Spirotetramat primarily exerts its insecticidal activity through stomach toxicity, with additional contact killing. It also exhibits excellent systemic translocation and vertical penetration, making it a highly effective insecticide with bidirectional systemic movement. The compound is transported acropetally and basipetally via the xylem and phloem. It acts on insect eggs and larvae, while reducing adult oviposition rates and decreasing the survival of offspring larvae. When applied to plant surfaces, it not only provides robust control of foliar pests but also offers effective protection for emerging stems and leaves, as well as hard-to‑reach areas where spray coverage is limited. Furthermore, it demonstrates strong efficacy against concealed and shell‑bound pests.

Widely launched worldwide, with robust registration activity domestically.

Bayer plans to launch spirotetramat in more than 70 countries worldwide, and based on the current registration status, achieving this goal appears imminent.

In 2007, spirotetramat was approved for registration in Tunisia, marking the product’s first global registration. In 2008, it received registration approvals in the United States and Canada. Subsequently, it was registered in Japan, China, Colombia, Mexico, Turkey, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Furthermore, as a new active ingredient, spirotetramat has obtained formal registration within the European Union. On May 1, 2014, spirotetramat was included in the EU… Pesticide The Registration Regulation (1107/2009) has established a list of active substances, valid until May 1, 2024. In addition, spirotetramat has been registered in countries including Morocco, Brazil, Algeria, Argentina, Chile, Pakistan, Senegal, South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo. To date, more than 50 countries worldwide have registered spirotetramat.

As of now, a total of 27 companies in China have obtained registration for 31 products based on spirotetramat, including 12 technical‑grade products (Table 1) and 19 formulated products (of which 16 are combination formulations). The compatible active ingredients include chlorpyrifos, flonicamid, abamectin, thiacloprid, pymetrozine, etoxazole, thiamethoxam, pyriproxyfen, bifenthrin, and others. Registered formulation types encompass emulsifiable concentrates, suspensions, and water‑dispersible granules. In the sixth batch of proposed approvals issued in 2018, Pesticide Among the products listed for public announcement, 17 spirotetramat‑related formulations are expected to receive registration approval, including three technical‑grade products and fourteen formulated products (six of which are combination formulations). Notably, 11 new companies have obtained registration. Currently, the registered spirotetramat products primarily target the following pests: red spider mites, psyllids, red wax scales, and scale insects on citrus trees; pear psyllids on pear trees; woolly aphids and green peach aphids on apple trees; cabbage aphids; and whiteflies on peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, and other crops.

Sales continue to grow, and the market outlook is promising.

In 2016, the global sales of spirotetramat totaled US$180 million, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.7% from 2011 to 2016.

The United States is the most important market for spirotetramat, with sales of US$27 million in 2016, accounting for 15.0% of the global spirotetramat market, which totaled US$180 million. China and Peru ranked second and third, with sales of US$10 million and US$5.98 million, respectively, representing 5.8% and 3.3% of the global market.

In 2016, global sales of spirotetramat increased slightly compared to the previous year, primarily driven by its use on grapes, potatoes, and… Cotton Improvements in efficacy when applied to crops. Among these, grapes represent the largest application crop for spirotetramat, with sales of US$19 million in 2016, accounting for 10.7% of the total market.