Latin America Crop Protection Chemicals (Pesticides) Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

Latin America Crop Protection Chemicals (Pesticides) Market Trends and Insights

Rapid Expansion of Soybean and Corn Acreage

Brazil added 1.2 million hectares of soybeans in 2024, lifting herbicide demand as glyphosate-tolerant varieties require multiple passes per season^{[1]Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, “Brazil: Oilseeds and Products Annual,” fas.usda.gov}. Argentina’s corn area rebounded, renewing appetite for pre-emergence herbicides. Second-crop corn in Brazil’s Center-West compresses application windows, favoring quick-acting formulations. Acreage growth in Paraguay and Bolivia extends market reach as deforestation-free certification raises input intensity. Together, these trends underpin herbicide volume resilience in the Latin America crop protection chemicals (Pesticides) market.

Increasing Pest Resistance to Older Chemistries

Field research confirmed cyantraniliprole-resistant Fall armyworm in Mato Grosso during 2024, forcing growers into newer diamide options^{[2]Source: CABI, “Fall Armyworm: Impacts and Implications,” cabi.org}. Argentina’s soybean belt battles glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth across 30% of area, lifting residual herbicide layering costs by 20% to 25%. Mexico’s vegetable sector reports declining pyrethroid efficacy, accelerating uptake of neonicotinoid seed treatments. Resistance escalates input spending and favors differentiated actives, benefiting innovators in the Latin America crop protection chemicals (Pesticides) market.

Intensifying Pressure from Invasive Species Such as Helicoverpa armigera

Since detection in 2013, Helicoverpa armigera has driven Brazilian cotton growers to double spray counts, now averaging six to eight applications per season. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) estimates regional Fall armyworm losses could reach USD 4 billion annually without control. Chile’s fruit sector equally faces codling-moth incursions, cementing demand for low-residue insecticides.

Growing Adoption of Stacked-Trait Genetically Modified (GM) Seeds

Intacta 2 Xtend soybeans covered significant area in Brazil in 2024, pairing herbicide tolerance with lepidopteran resistance and driving complementary herbicide use. Argentina’s stacked-trait corn hybrids span 85% of the area, supporting residual herbicide demand. Although Mexico debates GM corn, stacked traits dominate its cotton acreage. Trait adoption differentiates chemical portfolios and sustains herbicide innovation in the Latin America crop protection chemicals (Pesticides) market.

Stringent Maximum-Residue Limits in Key Export Markets

EU and North American buyers lowered residue thresholds, compelling Chile’s blueberry sector to swap into biological fungicides despite higher costs. Peru’s avocado exporters saw pre-harvest compliance expenses rise 12% in 2024. Mexico’s berry industry invested in laboratory testing, yet smallholders lag. Export-oriented segments therefore gravitate to premium low-residue products, while domestic growers stay with legacy synthetics, segmenting demand in the Latin America crop protection chemicals (Pesticides) market.

Escalating Activist-Driven Pesticide Bans

Mexico’s 2024 decree restricting glyphosate in tortilla supply chains stimulates glufosinate and 2,4-D promotion. Colombia debates paraquat bans, and Argentine provinces enforce aerial-spray buffer zones, shrinking treatment areas. Municipal curbs within Brazil add compliance complexity. Such patchwork policies raise registration costs and push suppliers toward biological portfolios. 

Segment Analysis

By Mode of Action: Herbicides Lead, Fungicides Surge

Herbicides accounted for 46.60% of revenue in 2025, reflecting their foundational role in no-till soybean and corn programs. Regulatory headwinds spur formulators to innovate with lower-volatility dicamba, glufosinate, and novel HPPD inhibitors. Fungicides, although smaller in base, advance at a 4.95% CAGR, outpacing all other categories. Export fruit growers in Chile and Peru deploy Bacillus and botanical blends to satisfy supermarket standards.

Insecticide demand bifurcates, where synthetic pyrethroids taper in vegetables, while diamide classes grow in corn and cotton to combat armyworm. Mode-of-action diversification, therefore, accelerates rotation practices and cushions market value against individual active ingredient bans. Resistance management drives product mix shifts. Growers now rotate triazole, strobilurin, and SDHI fungicides for soybean rust to prolong synthetic efficacy. Suppliers leverage this need with pre-mix packs and tailored stewardship programs, enhancing stickiness within the Latin America crop protection chemicals (pesticides) market.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Application: Soybeans Dominate, Horticulture Accelerates

Pulses and oilseeds accounted for 45.90% of the Latin America crop protection chemicals (Pesticides) market share in 2025. Multiple herbicide passes per cycle, plus residual layering, underpin value. Yet fruits and vegetables outpace as export premiums justify intensive protection. Fruits and vegetables, led by berries, avocados, and grapes, are advancing at a 9.55% CAGR during the forecast period. Berry growers in Chile spend over USD 800 per hectare on fungicides and insecticides to maintain shelf life and residue compliance. Grains and cereals absorb high volumes of insecticides to control Fall armyworm, but price sensitivity tempers the value growth. Specialty crops, such as coffee and cocoa, exhibit latent demand for incremental upside for niche suppliers.

Horticulture’s rapid expansion diversifies revenue away from traditional row crops. Suppliers now tailor low-residue and zero-day pre-harvest interval formulations specifically for avocado, mango, and table grape exporters, aligning product pipelines with booming wellness and sustainability trends.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

Geography Analysis

Brazil commands 78.10% of regional demand, supported by double-cropping systems that necessitate near-continuous chemical use. The Latin America crop protection chemicals (Pesticides) market size in Brazil is forecast to rise 4.32% CAGR through 2031 as MATOPIBA expansion and AI-enabled input optimization lift efficiency. 

Argentina represents the fastest market with a 4.96% CAGR from 2026 to 2031, but it grapples with volatile macro conditions. Economic strains push growers toward generics, restraining premium adoption. Even so, stacked-trait corn hybrid uptake sustains residual herbicide demand. Provincial spray buffers compel the adoption of seed treatments and inoculants that lower field application frequency. Chile, though smaller in area, posts on the strength of its export horticulture. Its growers invest heavily in microbial fungicides and pheromone-based insect controls to secure EU and Asian shelf space. Government fast-tracking of biological registrations under SAG supports this trajectory. Mexico and Central America show mixed dynamics. Mexico’s glyphosate restrictions skew herbicide portfolios toward glufosinate and mechanical weed control aids. Coffee, bananas, and palm oil dominate Central American demand, where counterfeit inflows challenge regulatory capacity. Caribbean islands remain niche consumers, focusing on high-value vegetables for tourism and export.