Market Trends of africa fungicide Industry
African climatic conditions ranging from semi-tropic to semi-arid favor the proliferation of fungal pathogens
- Phytopathogenic fungi are fungi that cause diseases in plants. Fungal infections can weaken the overall health of plants, leading to stunted growth. Infected plants may exhibit reduced height, smaller leaves, and fewer branches, which can directly translate into lower crop yields. Fungi can also disrupt the hormonal balance within plants, affecting their development and overall productivity.
- The fungicide consumption rate in Africa was 2.2 kg/ha in the year 2022. Africa is a continent with diverse environmental conditions. The climatic conditions range from semi-tropic to semi-arid. Although the majority of African countries have summer rainfall, the southwestern coastal region is predominantly a winter rainfall area. These variations in climate allow infestation of a large number of fungal diseases.
- Certain crops are more susceptible to fungal diseases, and their importance varies across regions in Africa. For example, maize is a staple crop in many Sub-Saharan African countries and is affected by diseases like maize rust and maize smut. Cassava, another crucial staple crop, is susceptible to diseases such as cassava brown streak disease and cassava mosaic disease. Additionally, coffee, bananas, tomatoes, and other crops are also susceptible to various fungal pathogens like rusts and mosaics.
- Commercial farming is expanding in Africa, with larger-scale agricultural operations and increased cultivation of high-value cash crops. Commercial farmers often rely on fungicides to protect their crops from fungal diseases and maximize yields. Such factors are expected to drive the demand for fungicides in the commercial farming industry during the forecast period.
Need for preventive and curative disease control fungicides and their limited production capabilities resulting in fluctuations in the prices of active ingredients
- In the African region, fungicides such as mancozeb, azoxystrobin, metalaxyl, propineb, and ziram play a crucial role in agricultural practices. They are widely utilized to combat various fungal diseases that pose significant threats to crops, including cereals, fruits, vegetables, and cash crops.
- The price of mancozeb stood at USD 7,793.2 per metric ton in 2022. This fungicide is a contact-type product widely applied on various crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, field crops, and professionally managed turf. Its effectiveness extends to combat numerous fungal diseases, including potato blight, leaf spot, scab, and rust.
- Azoxystrobin, a systemic and broad-spectrum preventive fungicide, holds the position of the second most widely used fungicide in the region. It exhibits both systemic and curative properties, effectively controlling various significant plant diseases and enhancing crop yield. China serves as the primary supplier of azoxystrobin to the region, while South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, and Djibouti are the major importing countries. The price of this active ingredient, which was at USD 4,579.6 per metric ton, can be influenced by factors such as importing tariffs, regulatory approvals, and customs duties, leading to fluctuations in its cost.
- Between 2018 and 2022, the price of metalaxyl experienced a notable rise, with an increase of USD 542.20 per metric ton. Currently, it stands at USD 4,454.0 per metric ton. Metalaxyl is a systemic fungicide known for its protective and curative properties. It is absorbed through the leaves, stems, and roots of plants, effectively controlling diseases like late blight, early blight, leaf spot, and downy mildew. The cost of the active ingredient may vary due to fluctuating raw material prices.