Fungicides China Monthly Report(Fungicides China Monthly Report 202301)

In early 2023, the ex-works prices of China's most fungicide TCs saw MoM reduction. The ex-works prices of bromine and triazole, the upstream raw materials, both decreased MoM, therefore weak in pushing up the prices of fungicide TCs. In the meantime, downstream producers showed less willingness in production, which means slack demands in downstream fungicide market.

In terms of company dynamics, Zhejiang Udragon's Gansu-based production base signed a contract to construct fungicide TC project including for difenoconazole, prothioconazole, zoxamide and fludioxonil; Jiangxi Heyi planned to build production lines for 1,800 t/a dithianon, 1,000 t/a iprodione and 800 t/a procymidone and other fungicide TCs and their intermediates; Shaanxi Gelida proposed to construct production capacity for fungicides including 200 t/a ningnanmycinl; Jiangxi Xinzhen announced its 1,000 t/a difenoconazole TC, 150 t/a uniconazole TC and 5,000 t/a tebuconazole TC production lines and supporting facilities had been completed and put into trial production.

In terms of policy, Shandong province issued the Action Plan on Constructing Development Pilot Zone of Green, Low-carbon and High-quality for 2023–2025, proposing to build a world-class high-end chemical industrial base and focusing on the green and low-carbon transformation in six advantageous industries.

In terms of registration, as of 31 Dec., 2022, data from China Pesticide Information Network showed that 105 fungicide products from 74 companies were approved in China in 2022, of which 9 were prothioconazole TC, accounting for a half of the total and becoming a new favourite in China's newly-registered fungicides in 2022.

In terms of diseases, on 6 Jan., China's National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Crentre predicted heavy occurrence of pests and diseases in major crops including wheat, rice, corn and potato in 2023, with occurrence area increasing 29.5% YoY and 10.6% compared to the 2017–2021 average.