Market Trends of China Seed Treatment Industry
Rising Cost of High Quality Seeds
The high costs associated with hybrids and genetically modified seeds are a major factor that is driving the growth of the seed treatment market in China. With higher regulatory issues relating to fumigation and foliar application of pesticides, seed treatment is being increasingly considered by farmers as a mode to protect high investments made on good quality seeds. Owing to the increasing demand for high-quality seeds with desirable agronomic traits, the cost of seeds is increasing. Seed treatment provides better crop establishment, in terms of healthy germination and protection against seed-borne and soil-borne diseases at a relatively low cost than other crop protection measures.
Decreasing Area Under Field Crops
In China, the cultivation area for field crops decreased from 130.5 million hectares in 2017 to 127.8 million hectares in 2021, representing 71.4% of the total cultivated area. Corn dominated the field crop landscape with a share of 34.2%, followed by rice and wheat at 23.6% and 18.3%, respectively. This decreasing cultivation area is projected to drive up seed treatment demand to improve productivity.
China typically divides its field crop production into two seasons: summer/spring (April-September) and winter. Spring crops encompass early corn, early rice, early wheat, and cotton, while winter crops focus on winter wheat and rapeseed. Rice and corn, however, take precedence in China's agricultural landscape, accounting for a third of the nation's grain output. As the world's leading rice producer, China allocated 30 million hectares for rice farming in 2022, yielding a harvest of 210 million tonnes. Key rice-producing regions span Heilongjiang, Hunan, Jiangxi, Hubei, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Yunan. China's corn production for 2022-23 is projected to hit 277.2 million tonnes, up by 4.6 million tonnes from the previous year, primarily due to improved harvests. The Northeast provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Inner Mongolia stand out as major corn-growing regions.
While spring remains the primary cropping season, it faces some challenges, particularly during the hotter months of June and July. Rice, a staple for millions in China, is particularly affected. The combination of high temperatures and low precipitation increases the pest infestation driving the seed treatment market.
