Fungicides China Monthly Report

Fungicide raw material prices saw a broad upward trend in March 2026, with all products rising across the board driven by cost increases and shifts in supply-demand dynamics. The fungicide technical market remained strong overall, with prices of all varieties generally increasing.

Company dynamics

On 12 March, Deep Intelligent Pharma (DIP) and CAC Nantong Chemical Co., Ltd. (CAC Nantong) signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shanghai. The two parties will conduct in-depth collaboration in AI-driven green pesticide original innovation, generative molecular design, crystal form prediction and other fields, jointly develop pesticides with new modes of action, and promote China's pesticide R&D from follow-up innovation to original innovation.

On 5 March, CAC Nantong released an investor relations activity record. During the industry downturn, CAC Nantong maintained profitability relying on the cost advantages of restricted products such as chlorothalonil. As global pesticide inventories bottom out and procurement cycles approach, the company is simultaneously laying out key markets such as South America. Its innovative new product cyproflanilide has been launched and is expected to become a new growth driver. The industry is slowly recovering, but overcapacity and the "one product, one certificate" policy will accelerate industry consolidation.

Policy

The Ecological and Environmental Code of the People's Republic of China was adopted, effective 15 August, 2026. Comprising 1,242 articles, the Code consolidates existing environmental laws and introduces dedicated sections on agricultural water and solid waste pollution control.

Registration

On 19 March, the Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, publicized the second batch of pesticides proposed for registration in 2026, including 122 fungicide products. Most products are suspension concentrates, with main active ingredients including pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, fluopyram, fludioxonil and prothioconazole.

Disease

On 26 February, the Chongqing Seed Station issued Occurrence Trend and Control Recommendations for Rape Sclertiniose. The cumulative occurrence area of rape sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Chongqing currently stands at 6,306.67 hectares, with an average diseased plant rate of 1.5% and a maximum of 12% in local fields. The disease is forecast to be at Grade 3 overall and Grade 4 locally in 2026, covering an area of about 113,300 hectares. Timely pesticide application is recommended at the bolting and early flowering stages, with rotation of green pesticides such as florylamine hydrochloride and dimethachlon.

On 26 February, the Hunan Plant Protection and Quarantine Station released information on the severe occurrence trend and scientific control recommendations for rape sclerotinia sclerotiorum in 2026. The average leaf diseased plant rate across Hunan Province is currently 1.5%, slightly higher than the same period in the previous five years. The disease is forecast to be severe across the province, with a risk of major outbreaks locally; the peak occurrence period is from mid-March to mid-April. Timely drainage after rain to reduce humidity is recommended, and pesticide application should be carried out on sunny days from the early full-bloom stage, with increased use of new-type pesticides.

Trade

According to export data from China Customs, in January, China's export volume of fungicide formulations reached 20,114.26 tonnes, a decrease of 1.54% YoY. The export value rose by 3.68% YoY to USD1,019.87 million, and the average export price increased by 5.30% YoY.

In February, export volume reached 16,642.45 tonnes, an increase of 27.21% YoY. The export value rose by 30.51% YoY to USD859.60 million, and the average export price increased by 2.59% YoY.