Market analysis
In February 2026, prices of key fungicide raw materials showed mixed movements, with the average edging up 0.52% MoM. Bromine prices reversed earlier gains and posted notable volatility. The fungicide market remained in its off‑season, with trading limited to essential demand and ex‑works prices dipping 0.05% MoM.
The core compound patent for fluxapyroxad expires in China on 28 February, 2026, opening up a blockbuster active ingredient—once exceeding USD1 billion in annual sales—to domestic manufacturers. Several companies have already lined up production capacity, with a sharp "patent cliff" price decline expected over the next one to two years. Opportunity and challenge coexist, and co‑formulation development is becoming key to differentiation.
Corporate developments
On 10 February, Maoming Liqiang Chemical Co., Ltd. published the environmental acceptance report for Phase II of its 5,000 t/a fine chemical intermediate project， and the accepted facilities concern 1,250 t/a 4,6‑dichloropyrimidine, 800 t/a benzofuranone and 1,500 t/a pyrimidinone—the first two being key intermediates for the fungicide azoxystrobin.
Policy
On 26 January 2026, MARA released the 2025 national pesticide supervision and sampling results. Among 753 fungicide samples tested, 746 passed, giving a pass rate of 99.1%—higher than those for insecticides (97.3%), herbicides (97.9%) and the overall average (97.8%). No paraquat was detected in non‑selective herbicides, and biopesticides achieved a 100% pass rate.
On 12 February, Henan Province held a video conference to strengthen supervision of banned and restricted pesticides and crack down on related violations.
Registration
On 30 January, ICAMA proposed 132 fungicides for registration, mainly as suspension concentrates. Key active ingredients include pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, prothioconazole, fluopyram, kasugamycin and epoxiconazole.
Disease pressure
In early February, NATESC conducted wheat stripe rust prevention guidance in Sichuan. Favourable weather supports disease spread, with infections confirmed in 23 counties across 10 cities—covering about 894 hectares.
In 2026, major diseases on staple crops such as rice and corn in Guizhou are forecast to be severe, while diseases on cash crops including fruits, vegetables and tea are expected to be moderate with localised outbreaks. Ample field inoculum, limited varietal resistance and a mild winter favour pathogen survival and reproduction. High humidity during the flood season will further elevate epidemic risk.
Trade
In 2025, China's fungicide formulation exports rose 22.14% in volume and 22.52% in value, with average prices edging up 0.32%—improving from the 2024 pattern of volume growth amid price declines, though still reflecting a "volume‑for‑value" trade‑off. Three‑year data show sustained export expansion with widening divergence across destinations.
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