Market Trends of south america fungicide Industry
Intensification of agricultural practices, such as increased planting densities, creates a conducive environment for the rapid proliferation of fungal pathogens
- 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 Southern Cone of South America is one of the most critical regions for disease epidemics. The region is comprised of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Serious diseases that cause epidemics and production losses include leaf rusts, powdery mildew, and fungal leaf blights (Septoria leaf blotch, spot blotch). These diseases are present every year since normal conditions are conducive to their appearance and dissemination.
- Chile is the largest consumer of fungicides in South America, with a consumption of 4.1 kg/ha in the year 2022. This is because certain regions in Chile have climatic conditions, such as high humidity, rainfall, and temperature fluctuations, which can create a conducive environment for fungal disease development. To prevent and manage these diseases, farmers often rely on fungicides as a proactive measure.
- Climatic conditions prevailing in southern Brazil are highly conducive to the development of several important fungal foliar diseases. A twelve-year study demonstrated that wheat plants sprayed with fungicide showed a mean yield increase of 40%. Brazil accounted for the second most fungicide consumption rate of 0.9 kg/ha in 2022.
- The intensification of agricultural practices, such as increased planting densities, creates a conducive environment for the rapid proliferation and establishment of fungal pathogens, thereby fueling the demand for fungicides during the forecast period.
Mancozeb is the most popularly used fungicide in South America
- Mancozeb is a fungicide belonging to the chemical class of dithiocarbamates. It is commonly used in South America to control fungal diseases in various crops. Mancozeb is effective in managing a wide range of fungal diseases, including late blight, downy mildew, early blight, and anthracnose, in crops like potatoes, tomatoes, grapes, and bananas. Mancozeb works by interfering with the metabolic processes of the fungi, preventing their growth and reproduction. In addition, Mancozeb has a broad spectrum of activity compared to other fungicides and acts on multiple sites within the fungal cell, making it more effective. Mancozeb was priced at USD 7.8 thousand in South America in 2022.
- Propineb is also a fungicide belonging to the chemical class of dithiocarbamates, similar to Mancozeb. It is used to control various fungal diseases in agriculture. Propineb is effective in managing fungal diseases such as downy mildew, late blight, leaf spot, and blight in various crops. Like Mancozeb, Propineb also works through multi-site activity, making it less prone to resistance development in fungal populations. Propineb was priced at USD 3.54 thousand in South America in the year 2022.
- Similar to Mancozeb and Propineb, Ziram belongs to the chemical class of dithiocarbamates, priced at USD 3.3 thousand per metric in 2022. It is commonly used to control fungal diseases in agriculture and is known to effectively manage fungal diseases such as common blight, downy mildew, leaf spot, and anthracnose. Ziram inhibits several key enzymes in the fungal cell, disrupting various metabolic processes and interfering with the pathogens' ability to grow and reproduce. The multi-site activity makes it an effective tool for disease control over the long term.