Global Pesticide Trade Analysis: In recent years, the total global pesticide exports have reached 5.8 to 5.9 million tonnes, with China accounting for approximately 37%.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ report, “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022,” indicates that in 2021, approximately 2.3 billion people worldwide—representing 29.3 percent of the global population—experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, an increase of 350 million since the onset of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Nearly 924 million people—11.7 percent of the global population—faced severe food insecurity, up by 207 million over the same two-year period. The global spread of COVID‑19 has further underscored the fragility of food production systems, exacerbating hunger and acute food insecurity around the world. Pesticides are indispensable inputs in agricultural production, playing an irreplaceable and vital role in safeguarding global food security. At the same time, as living standards and consumer demand continue to rise, higher expectations are being placed on pesticide use and on achieving green, sustainable development. This paper analyzes recent trends in pesticide trade among major countries worldwide and, in light of overarching global regulatory developments, seeks to provide guidance for the pesticide industry’s transition toward greener, more sustainable practices.

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Trends in Global Pesticide Export Volumes

1.1 Global Total Pesticide Exports

According to data from the FAO Statistics Database (FAOSTAT), during the 1990s, global pesticide exports averaged approximately 1.0 to 1.5 million tonnes per year (Figure 1). Since 2000, global pesticide exports have entered a period of rapid growth: in 2004, total exports exceeded 2.0 million tonnes; thereafter, export volumes increased by roughly 1.0 million tonnes every four years, surpassing 3.0 million tonnes in 2008, 4.0 million tonnes in 2012, and reaching 5.5 million tonnes in 2016. The highest level was recorded in 2017, when total exports exceeded 6.0 million tonnes, and in recent years, annual exports have remained stable at around 5.8 to 5.9 million tonnes.

Figure 1: Changes in Global Pesticide Export Volumes

1.2 Total Volume of China’s Pesticide Exports

China is a major producer and exporter of pesticides. In the 1990s, export volumes were modest, averaging around 100,000 tonnes per year (Figure 2). Since 2000, Chinese pesticide exports have grown rapidly: in 2007, they exceeded 500,000 tonnes; by 2013, they surpassed 1 million tonnes; and in 2017, they reached 1.67 million tonnes. Subsequently, from 2018 to 2019, export volumes declined slightly, stabilizing at approximately 1.5 million tonnes annually. Following 2020, the global COVID‑19 pandemic severely disrupted overseas pesticide production supply chains. Meanwhile, China managed to contain the spread of the virus relatively quickly, ensuring the smooth continuation of domestic pesticide manufacturing. As a result, pesticide exports surged once again, exceeding 2 million tonnes; in 2020, total exports hit a record high of 2.51 million tonnes, and in 2021, they remained steady at around 2.2 million tonnes.

Figure 2: Changes in China’s Pesticide Export Volume

1.3 Changes in the Global Share of Pesticide Exports by Country

According to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in 2019 a total of 134 countries engaged in pesticide exports. The top five exporters were China, Germany, India, France, and the United States (Figure 3). Among them, China accounted for 27% of global pesticide exports, while the other four countries each held between 8% and 9%. Analyzing the trends in the global share of pesticide exports by country, it is evident that during the 1990s, the leading exporters were primarily the United States, Germany, and France; at that time, U.S. pesticide exports represented approximately 30% of the global total (Figure 4).

Germany and France each account for roughly 20%, and the combined pesticide exports of these three countries represent more than 70% of the global total. However, as China’s pesticide exports have continued to rise, the share of U.S., German, and French exports in the global market has declined year by year; currently, each of these three countries accounts for about 8% of worldwide pesticide exports. Meanwhile, China’s share of global pesticide exports has been growing rapidly: it accounted for approximately 10% of the global total in the 1990s, climbed to 25% by 2015, and in recent years has surpassed one-third. India’s pesticide industry has developed relatively slowly but has maintained a steady growth trajectory; in recent years, its share of global pesticide exports has approached 8%, comparable to the annual export volumes of major pesticide-exporting countries in Europe and North America.

Figure 4: Changes in the Global Share of Pesticide Export Volumes by Country

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Trends in Global Pesticide Export Values

2.1 Global Share of Pesticide Export Values by Country

According to FAO statistics, global pesticide exports totaled US$35.6 billion in 2019. China’s pesticide exports amounted to US$5.08 billion, accounting for 14% of the global total (Figure 5). The United States, Germany, and France each recorded pesticide export values of approximately US$4 billion, representing 11%–12% of the global total. India’s pesticide exports reached US$3.4 billion in 2019, or 10% of the global total. Based on the combined export value and volume of the top five exporting countries, China ranks first worldwide in both total export value and total export volume; however, its average export price is the lowest at US$3,377 per ton. By contrast, the United States has the highest average export price at US$9,741 per ton, while France and Germany report average prices of US$8,967 and US$8,511 per ton, respectively. India’s average export price stands at US$7,470 per ton—lower than that of the developed European and American countries but higher than China’s.

Figure 5: Share of Pesticide Export Value by Country as a Percentage of the Global Total

2.2 Trends in Pesticide Export Values of Major Countries

Although the year‑on‑year changes in export values among the top five exporting countries have varied slightly, the overall trend has been one of growth. In particular, the United States, Germany, and France reached peak pesticide export values of US$4.2–4.4 billion in 2014 (Figure 6), but these subsequently declined rapidly to below US$4.0 billion in 2015. Only in recent years have exports resumed a gradual increase, approaching 2014 levels at around US$4.0 billion each. China has maintained a pattern of rapid, stepwise growth: compared with 2000, its total pesticide export volume surged by 684% and its total export value by 721% in 2019—far outpacing the United States, Germany, and France. While U.S. pesticide export volume grew by only 58% between 2000 and 2019, export value increased by 178%, roughly three times the rate of volume growth. Similarly, France and Germany recorded export‑value growth rates of 169% and 132%, respectively, both exceeding their respective volume‑growth rates of 111% and 115%. India, benefiting from a low base in both export volume and value in the early 2000s, posted the highest growth rates: its pesticide export volume expanded by 967% and its export value by an astonishing 1,330% between 2000 and 2019—far surpassing all other countries.

Figure 6: Trends in Pesticide Export Values of Major Countries

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Global Pesticide Import Trends

3.1 Pesticide Import Volumes by Country

According to statistics from the FAO database, in 2019 a total of 151 countries engaged in pesticide import trade, with global pesticide imports amounting to 5.47 million tonnes. While pesticide exports are highly concentrated—accounting for 60% of the global total among the top five exporting countries—the distribution of import volumes across countries is relatively dispersed. Sixteen countries reported annual imports exceeding 100,000 tonnes, collectively accounting for approximately 53.6% of the year’s global import volume. Among them, Brazil recorded the largest import volume at 520,000 tonnes, representing about 10% of the global total (Figure 7). France, Canada, and Germany each imported between 200,000 and 260,000 tonnes, contributing roughly 4% to 5% of global imports. China’s pesticide imports totaled 156,000 tonnes, or just 3% of the global total.

Figure 7: Share of Each Country’s Pesticide Imports as a Percentage of the Global Total

3.2 Trends in Pesticide Import Volumes Among Major Countries

Since the 1990s, France, Germany, and the United States have all experienced steady annual growth in pesticide imports (Figure 8). France has consistently recorded the highest import volumes, with annual imports hovering around 150,000 tonnes in the 1990s and rising to 200,000–250,000 tonnes between 2010 and 2019. Germany and the United States have maintained comparable import levels, averaging approximately 50,000 tonnes per year in the 1990s and increasing to roughly 200,000 tonnes by 2019. Canada’s pesticide imports have exhibited considerable year-to-year variability but have nonetheless shown an overall upward trend, with annual imports remaining in the range of 200,000–250,000 tonnes over the past decade. Vietnam’s pesticide imports have grown rapidly since 2010: while annual imports stood at only 20,000–30,000 tonnes around the year 2000, they had surged to approximately 200,000 tonnes by 2019. Brazil has registered the fastest growth in global pesticide imports, reaching 280,000 tonnes in 2013—placing it first worldwide—and continuing to expand at a rapid pace, surpassing 520,000 tonnes in 2019, more than double that of any other country. China’s pesticide imports have increased at a relatively moderate pace, peaking around the year 2000 at roughly 100,000 tonnes annually; over the following decade, imports declined to about 60,000 tonnes before gradually recovering to near 100,000 tonnes, and in recent years have stabilized at approximately 150,000 tonnes per year.

Figure 8: Changes in Pesticide Import Volumes of Major Countries

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Global Pesticide Import Value Situation

4.1 Share of Pesticide Import Value by Country

In 2019, the global total value of pesticide imports reached US$34.85 billion. Brazil ranked first with import expenditures of US$3.6 billion, accounting for 10% of the global total (Figure 9). France, Germany, Canada, India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Vietnam, Poland, and Mexico occupied positions second through thirteenth, respectively; together, these 13 countries accounted for more than half of global pesticide imports. Among them, France’s import value was US$2.0 billion, representing 6% of the global total, while Germany, Canada, India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain each recorded import values between US$1.0 billion and US$1.6 billion. Italy, Vietnam, Poland, and Mexico each reported import values of approximately US$800 million. Based on the average unit price of pesticide imports—calculated by dividing the total import value by the total import volume—for the top eight importing countries, India had the highest average unit price at US$12,326 per ton, followed by Germany at US$8,070 per ton. France, China, Brazil, and Canada all posted average unit prices around US$7,000 per ton, whereas the United States recorded a relatively lower average unit price of just US$5,859 per ton. Vietnam had the lowest average unit price, at US$4,359 per ton.

Figure 9: Share of Major Countries in Global Pesticide Import Value

4.2 Trends in Pesticide Import Values of Major Countries

Since 2000, the import value of pesticides in Brazil, France, Germany, and Canada has grown rapidly year after year, reaching a peak in 2014 (Figure 10). Thereafter, their total pesticide import values continued to decline. Brazil began to regain its rapid growth momentum after 2017 and has now once again reached its 2014 peak level, while France, Germany, and Canada have seen steady, albeit slow, increases in recent years—though their import values remain slightly lower than in 2014. India’s pesticide import value has maintained a consistent upward trend since 2000, with particularly rapid growth after 2010; starting in 2017, India’s total pesticide imports surpassed those of China, placing it fifth globally.

Figure 10: Trends in Pesticide Import Values of Major Countries

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Major agrochemical products sold globally

According to 2019 global sales data from Phillips McDougall, among herbicides, glyphosate leads by a wide margin with sales of US$5.251 billion (Table 1), while glufosinate ranks second with annual sales of US$980 million; 2,4‑D and mesotrione each posted annual sales exceeding US$800 million. Atrazine, metolachlor, and paraquat all recorded annual sales above US$600 million, whereas acetochlor, zoxazolyn, dicamba, and flumioxazin generated sales in the range of US$400–450 million. Pendimethalin, isoxaflutole, cyhalofop‑butyl, and picloram reported sales of US$350–400 million.

Among the leading fungicide products in the market, azoxystrobin, mancozeb, and pyraclostrobin each generate annual sales exceeding US$1 billion. Other strobilurin‑type fungicides, such as trifloxystrobin, recorded annual sales of US$840 million, while kresoxim‑methyl posted US$480 million. Among triazole fungicides, prothioconazole achieved annual sales of US$825 million, while tebuconazole and epoxiconazole each approached US$600 million. Among succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides, fluopyram led with US$490 million in annual sales, followed by boscalid at US$378 million. Overall, global fungicide sales continue to be dominated by strobilurins and triazoles.

In the insecticide segment, chlorantraniliprole achieved global sales of US$1.75 billion in 2019, followed by thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, each with annual sales of approximately US$1 billion. Among pyrethroid pesticides, lambda‑cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and bifenthrin continue to command substantial market shares.

Table 1: Top 15 Herbicides, Fungicides, and Insecticides by Global Sales in 2019

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Global Trade in Hazardous Pesticides

Reducing pesticide risks is a key priority of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s Pesticide Management Programme. To minimize risks in global pesticide trade, the World Health Organization (WHO) first issued a definition and classification of hazardous pesticides in 1978, revising it every few years; the current version was adopted at the 2019 WHO–FAO Joint Meeting. Simply put, hazardous pesticides are identified using eight critical criteria: any substance that meets one or more of these criteria must be classified as a hazardous pesticide. These criteria include: the pesticide formulation meeting the WHO’s recommended hazard‑classification standards for Category 1A or 1B; the active ingredient or formulation satisfying the GHS classification for Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, or Reproductive Toxicity in Category 1A or 1B; inclusion on the lists of the Stockholm Convention, the Rotterdam Convention, or the Montreal Protocol; and the presence of an active ingredient that poses serious or irreversible adverse effects to human health or the environment.

According to FAO database statistics, in 2019 the total global import volume of hazardous pesticides amounted to 103,000 tonnes. The countries with the largest import volumes are primarily those in Southeast Asia, led by Myanmar, which imported 33,000 tonnes (Table 2), followed by the Philippines at nearly 18,000 tonnes. Cambodia and Malaysia each import around 10,000 tonnes annually. Central and North America also constitutes a major import region for hazardous pesticides, with countries such as Costa Rica, Guatemala, the United States, and Honduras reporting annual imports of 2,000–3,000 tonnes. Exporting countries of hazardous pesticides are concentrated mainly in Guatemala, South Africa, Japan, Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam. Looking at recent trends, major economies in Europe and North America have seen a marked decline in their imports of hazardous pesticides: U.S. imports fell from 25,000 tonnes in 2009 to 2,200 tonnes in 2019, while the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, and South Africa have experienced rapid reductions since 2008–2010, with only very small quantities now being imported. Among Southeast Asian nations, Malaysia and Indonesia have witnessed significant declines in recent years: Malaysia’s imports dropped from 20,000 tonnes in 2009 to approximately 10,000 tonnes in 2019, and Indonesia’s imports decreased from 15,000 tonnes to roughly 1,400 tonnes per year today. At present, imports of hazardous pesticides remain concentrated in a handful of countries, including Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Table 2: Global Import and Export Volumes of Hazardous Pesticides in 2019

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Analysis and Discussion

7.1 The global orientation of pesticide regulation and assessment is sustainable development.

Global pesticide regulation is becoming increasingly stringent, and the strengthening of pesticide risk assessment and management has been adopted by an ever-growing number of national pesticide regulatory agencies. The United States is among the first countries in the world to conduct pesticide risk assessments; it not only evaluates the environmental risks, dietary risks, and applicator exposure risks of active ingredients but also assesses pesticide adjuvants, establishing corresponding maximum residue limits. Furthermore, through a periodic re‑evaluation system, it continuously phases out older, outdated pesticide formulations that were registered in earlier years.

In recent years, the European Union has adopted increasingly stringent measures in the regulation of pesticides and chemicals. Some member states began implementing pesticide‑reduction initiatives as early as the early 1990s, and periodic re‑evaluations of pesticides have increasingly favored conservative hazard assessments, taking into account potential risks associated with their use based on the intrinsic toxicological endpoints of the active ingredients themselves, thereby phasing out certain products posing unacceptable risks. According to incomplete statistics, the EU currently approves only 449 active ingredients for pesticide registration, while the number of unapproved active ingredients has risen to 934—including carbendazim, thiram, chlorothalonil, mancozeb, prochloraz, propiconazole, atrazine, chlorpyrifos, clothianidin, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, lambda‑cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, and others that remain widely used in many other countries worldwide. Pesticide products whose registrations have been revoked by the EU may still be produced and exported within European countries, but they will be subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure under the Rotterdam Convention, introducing uncertainty into their import and export trade. Moreover, as these substances are banned in the EU, the maximum residue limits (MRLs) applicable to them in relevant crops will either be eliminated or replaced by uniform MRLs, which will significantly affect the export trade of agricultural products from regions that continue to use these pesticides.

China is among the first countries in the world to phase out highly toxic pesticides. Since the promulgation of the new Regulations on Pesticide Management in 2016, pesticide registration and management have entered a new stage characterized by the comprehensive implementation of risk‑based assessment. In particular, for products involving novel active ingredients or expanded uses, full‑scale assessments are conducted to evaluate resistance risks, environmental risks, dietary exposure risks, and applicator exposure risks. At the same time, risk monitoring is carried out across different pesticide categories, and periodic re‑evaluations are planned for older pesticide formulations that have been registered for more than 15 years—measures that are bound to exert far‑reaching impacts on China’s domestic pesticide industry. Moreover, under the combined influence of recent stringent environmental policies—such as national carbon‑reduction targets and initiatives to address emerging pollutants—and open‑policy measures encouraging the localized commercial cultivation of herbicide‑tolerant genetically modified crops, the production, marketing, and import‑export trade of China’s pesticide sector are poised to undergo further transformation.

7.2 The concept of green innovation will be integrated throughout the entire life-cycle management process of pesticide products.

Green innovation involves, during the research and development phase of pesticides, identifying new active ingredients that maximize efficacy against pests, diseases, and weeds while minimizing risks to humans and the environment; developing green, clean production processes; implementing scientifically sound product‑use guidelines; and adopting integrated pest management strategies. It also encompasses the proper disposal of used pesticide packaging and the maximization of resource recovery and reuse. Since China launched its initiative to achieve zero growth in pesticide use in 2015, the concept of green pest control has steadily gained widespread acceptance. High‑quality, environmentally friendly pesticides—characterized by ultra‑high efficacy, low application rates, minimal residues, reduced risks, and ecological compatibility—are poised to become the mainstay in gradually replacing older, conventional formulations that are high‑risk and require heavy applications.

Source: “World Pesticides”        Author: Zhu Chunyu ¹ , Zhang Nan ² , Nie Dongxing ² (1. BASF (China) Co., Ltd.; 2. Pesticide Inspection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)