Market Trends of asia pacific molluscicide Industry
The increasing mollusk population is leading to higher application per hectare
- Japan is the largest per hectare consumer of molluscicides, with 100.0 grams in 2022. Snails are common pests that feed on a wide range of crops in Japan. However, the apple snail, an invasive species, poses a significant threat to rice cultivation in Japan, particularly in Kyushu. It is considered a major hindrance to the adoption of direct-sowing practices in rice farming. To address this problem, the use of molluscicides and repellents by farmers has increased and proven to be an effective strategy in mitigating the impact caused by the apple snail invasion.
- Australia is by far the second-highest per hectare consumer of molluscicides in Asia-Pacific, with 13.2 grams per hectare in 2022. African giant snail (Lissachatina fulica) is considered a major pest in Australia due to its ability to reproduce rapidly and feed on a wide range of plants, including crops, ornamental plants, and native vegetation. It has a voracious appetite and can cause significant damage to gardens, crops, and natural habitats, leading to severe economic losses.
- The Philippines, Vietnam, and China were other prominent countries using molluscicides at the rate of 9.9 grams, 8.4 grams, and 7.1 grams per hectare, respectively, in 2022. Golden apple snails are the major threat to rice production in these countries as they cut the rice stem at the base, destroying the whole plant and leading to annual yield losses of up to 50%, especially in irrigated rice fields, according to the International Rice Research Institute.
- Few of the snail species like golden apple snails can grow and reproduce quickly, making it very difficult to control, leading to higher usage of molluscicides in the countries of Asia-Pacific.
Understand The Key Trends Shaping This Market
Download PDF
The major drivers for this market include the increasing adoption of agrochemicals and the infestation of golden apple snails in the rice fields of Asia
- Slugs usually feed above and below the soil surface, damaging seeds, shoots, and roots. In some crops, the main problem time is at planting, while in others, problems occur during the growing season or harvest. These mollusk species have become one of the major threats causing huge agricultural losses. These species are majorly seen in cereal crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and horticultural crops. Deroceras, Milax, Tandonia, Limax, and Arion are recognized as important mollusks causing economic losses in the crops.
- Metaldehyde is a molluscicide used in a variety of vegetables and crops in fields, gardens, and greenhouses. It is applied in the form of liquid, granules, sprays, dust, or pelleted/grain bait to kill slugs and snails. Metaldehyde was valued at USD 52.5 thousand per metric ton in 2022.
- Ferric phosphate is a molluscicide for use in cereals, oilseed rape, potatoes, and a wide range of horticultural crops and was valued at USD 52.0 thousand per metric ton in 2022. Iron phosphate interferes with the calcium metabolism within the slug and eventually causes cellular pathological changes in the slug’s crop and hepatopancreas. This process from feeding to dying normally takes about three to six days.
- The major drivers for this market include increasing adoption of agrochemicals, rising demand for high-value horticulture crops, and infestation of golden apple snails in the rice fields of Asia. Further, increasing awareness of mollusk control among farmers and the introduction of innovative molluscicide products are expected to create growth opportunities for this market during the forecast period.
Understand The Key Trends Shaping This Market
Download PDF
