Insecticide industry makes innovative breakthroughs with steady optimization of industrial regulation and raw material structure

Summary:

January 2026 witnessed a series of key developments in the global and Chinese insecticide industry. Independent innovative compounds obtained international certification, leading enterprises completed industrial closed-loop layouts, market order was further standardized, raw material prices showed mixed trends, and a new batch of pesticide registration products was publicized. The whole industrial chain presented a clear momentum of accelerated innovation and high-quality development. The core updates are as follows.

1. Innovative Achievements: Independent New Compound Approved Internationally, Differentiated New Product Registered

On January 30, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) formally approved the ISO common name Flupymezotiaz for chloroflupymezotiaz, a new mesoionic insecticide independently created by Qingdao Qingyuan Crop Science Group Co., Ltd. (Qingyuan Agrochemical).

• CAS REG. No.: 3060345-81-2
• Chemical name: 1-((2-chlorothiazol-5-yl)methyl)-3-(3-(5-fluoropyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl)-9-methyl-4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-1-ium-2-olate
• Molecular formula: C₂₃H₁₅ClFN₅O₂S

Flupymezotiaz is presumed to share the same mechanism of action as triflumezopyrim, acting as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulator. It targets the nAChR in the insect central nervous system, blocking nerve signal transmission and causing pests to stop feeding rapidly, become paralyzed and die.

It shows no cross-resistance to existing insecticides, with excellent penetration and certain systemic conductivity. It can effectively control lepidopteran pests such as Chilo suppressalis and Cnaphalocrocis medinalis that have developed resistance to traditional pesticides. In addition, flupymezotiaz features outstanding environmental friendliness.

The creation of flupymezotiaz marks a major breakthrough for Qingyuan Agrochemical in the control of rice-resistant pests, and it is expected to become a core product in the rice insecticide market.

On the same day, the Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (ICAMA) publicized a new batch of proposed pesticide registrations. Liufuding Crop Protection Co., Ltd. launched Weimeng®, the first registered innovative compound product in China, a 7% cyantraniliprole + 5% spinetoram mixture, becoming the first product of this combination in China’s insecticide sector.

The product adopts a scientific mixture of cyantraniliprole and spinetoram with complementary mechanisms of action. Cyantraniliprole has strong systemicity, while spinetoram mainly provides strong contact toxicity, achieving synergistic effects. It precisely controls difficult pests such as caterpillars, borers, thrips and leafminers with increasing resistance.

Developed over years, the product optimized adjuvant formulas through 216 bioassays to ensure rapid wetting, spreading and efficient penetration. Field data show dual advantages of fast action and long duration: pests show toxic reactions 1–2 hours after application, efficacy peaks at 24 hours, and the duration is 3–5 days longer than conventional pesticides, helping reduce application times and farmers’ costs.

Against the backdrop of the "One Certificate, One Product" new policy promoting high-quality industry development and intensified homogeneous competition, this differentiated innovative product further consolidates Liufuding’s leading position in the insecticide sector.

2. Leading Enterprise Layout: Syngenta Forms a Complete "R&D + Manufacturing" Closed Loop in the Yangtze River Delta

Syngenta Group achieved key progress in its crop protection business layout in the Yangtze River Delta in late January. On January 24, Syngenta’s new Nantong crop protection formulation plant was put into operation, focusing on high-value-added patented crop protection products that are efficient, safe and environmentally friendly. On the following day, Syngenta Global Crop Protection China Innovation Center broke ground in Jinshan District, Shanghai, scheduled for completion in 2027 and official operation in 2028.

Features of Syngenta Nantong New Formulation Plant

• High-end formulation manufacturing: Specializes in eco-friendly water-based formulations and other green crop protection products, with a designed annual capacity of over 20,000 tons.
• Intelligent production: Fully digitalized control covering production, warehousing and energy management through automated production lines and intelligent three-dimensional warehouses.
• Green and low-carbon operation: Adopts green processes and energy-saving technologies to build an industry benchmark "Lighthouse Factory".
• Stable supply: Reliably meets demand for high-quality crop protection products in China and global markets.

Features of Syngenta Global Crop Protection China Innovation Center

• Cutting-edge R&D: Focuses on innovative compounds, biologicals, soil health and sustainable crop protection technologies.
• Local application verification: Conducts targeted R&D and efficacy testing based on China’s diverse agricultural scenarios.
• High-level R&D platform: Constructs R&D buildings, scientific research greenhouses and a multidisciplinary R&D team of about 150 people in the medium term.
• Global collaborative innovation: Acts as a key hub of Syngenta’s global R&D network, practicing the innovation model of "In China, For Global".
• The two projects form a closely coordinated closed loop of "R&D in Shanghai, Manufacturing in Nantong". The Innovation Center undertakes front-end technology incubation and product development, while the smart plant is responsible for subsequent engineering transformation and large-scale production, jointly enhancing Syngenta’s ability to quickly translate Chinese market demand into global innovative products.

3. Industry Order Regulation: China Pesticide Industry Association Advocates Standardized Operation of Chlorantraniliprole

On February 10, the China Pesticide Industry Association issued the Initiative on Regulating the Production and Operation of Chlorantraniliprole. Based on research, the initiative released the average industrial production cost of chlorantraniliprole technical material to establish a transparent price benchmark, curb irrational price competition, address market disorders, and guide the healthy and orderly development of the chlorantraniliprole industry.

As one of the world’s most important pesticide products, chlorantraniliprole plays a vital role in China’s agricultural production. However, prominent problems have emerged recently, including illegal production of chlorantraniliprole technical material and its upstream raw material 2-nitro-3-methylbenzoic acid, non-standard operation and disorderly price competition, which have severely disrupted the market and threatened the sustainable development of the whole industry.

Adhering to the principles of independence, objectivity and prudence, the special group summarized and analyzed basic data of chlorantraniliprole manufacturers, combined with raw material market conditions, commonly adopted production technologies and compliance requirements. After multi-dimensional calculation, the preliminary average cost of the product is about 233,000 RMB/ton (33,400 USD/ton).

Relevant chlorantraniliprole manufacturers should consciously regulate operation practices in accordance with the calculation results and their actual conditions, and resolutely put an end to disguised sales below the average cost through price protection, under-invoicing, rebates, goods returns, cashbacks and discounts, to jointly maintain a sound industrial ecosystem.

The China Pesticide Industry Association calls on enterprises to stop selling below cost, curb cutthroat competition, rebuild a fair market order, and guide the industry toward healthy competition centered on quality and compliance.

4. Raw Material Market: Mixed Price Trends of Major Insecticide Raw Materials in January

Major raw materials for insecticides showed mixed price trends in January.

• Bromine price rose 15.71% month-on-month, driven by low operating rates, tight spot supply and expected reduction in overseas imports.
• Ethylenediamine price increased 4.05% month-on-month, supported by strong costs of upstream ethylene, with tight supply due to plant maintenance before the Spring Festival.
• Phenol price climbed 4.17% month-on-month, supported by stabilized upstream pure benzene prices, tight spot supply from plant maintenance and steady demand from downstream bisphenol A.
• Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) price dropped 9.64% month-on-month, due to weak downstream demand and sufficient supply.
• m-Phenoxybenzaldehyde price fell 2.21% month-on-month, affected by weak downstream demand in the traditional off-season and sufficient supply.
• Liquid ammonia, methanol, O,O-diethyl thiophosphoryl chloride (ethyl chloride) and other raw materials fluctuated slightly within a certain range. 2-Chloro-5-chloromethylpyridine and trichloropyridinol sodium maintained stable supply and demand, with flat month-on-month prices.
• Detailed price data can be accessed in the Insecticide Monthly Report.

5. Product Registration Dynamics: 158 Insecticide Products Proposed for Registration

On January 30, ICAMA publicized the first batch of proposed pesticide registrations in 2026, including 158 insecticide products, 148 formulations and 10 technical materials.

• Top 3 formulations: suspension concentrate (66), granule (17), soluble concentrate (11).
• 10 proposed technical materials: ethiprole (3), cyantraniliprole (2), chlorfenapyr, novaluron, dinotefuran, spinosad, flonicamid.
• Most common active ingredients: chlorantraniliprole (30), dinotefuran (22), clothianidin (19), emamectin benzoate (19).
• Top 3 enterprises by registration number: Foshan Yinghui Crop Science Co., Ltd. (5), Ningbo Sanjiang Yinong Chemical Co., Ltd. (4), Qingdao Runnong Chemical Co., Ltd. (4).

The full list can be viewed in the Insecticide Monthly Report.

Source from CCM.

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