Year over year, sales of globally exported pesticides increased by 4.7% compared to $42 billion during 2020.
The 5 biggest exporters of pesticides onto global markets are mainland China, United States of America, France, India, and Germany. Collectively, that cohort of major suppliers generated 58.5% of international sales for exported pesticides during 2021.
Among continents, European countries posted the greatest international sales from exported pesticides during 2021 with shipments valued at $19.1 billion or 43.5% of the global total. In second place were Asian exporters at 39.1% while another 12% of worldwide pesticides shipments originated from North America.
Smaller percentages came from Latin America (3.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1%), then and Oceania (0.5%) mostly Australia and New Zealand.
Types of Exported Pesticides
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 3808 under which subcategories are herbicides (including anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators), insecticides, fungicides, disinfectants and rodenticides (plus other plant protection products).
Below is a breakdown of the most valuable types of pesticides exported in 2021. Not shown are miscellaneous subcategories with technical chemical components, which accounted for 3.7% of the global total.
- Herbicides: 35.1% of all exported pesticides
- Insecticides : 25.2%
- Fungicides : 22.8%
- Disinfectants : 8.9%
- Rodenticides, other plant protection items: 4.3%
The fastest-growing category of pesticides is herbicides including anti-sprouting items and plant-growth regulators. That category grew its revenues by 23.1% from 2020 to 2021.
Top Pesticides Exporters
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of pesticides during 2021.
- China: US$8 billion (18.2% of total exported pesticides)
- United States: $4.8 billion (10.9%)
- France: $4.6 billion (10.4%)
- India: $4.5 billion (10.2%)
- Germany: $3.8 billion (8.8%)
- Belgium: $2 billion (4.5%)
- Spain: $1.4 billion (3.3%)
- United Kingdom: $1.3 billion (3%)
- Israel: $1 billion (2.4%)
- Italy: $942.3 million (2.1%)
- Hungary: $855.9 million (1.9%)
- South Korea: $756.2 million (1.7%)
- Netherlands: $681.3 million (1.6%)
- Japan: $670.7 million (1.5%)
- Singapore: $541 million (1.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 81.7% of global pesticides exports in 2021.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing pesticides exporters since 2020 were: India (up 31.5%), Netherlands (up 13.8%), Italy (up 13.1%) and Singapore (up 9.1%).
Four major suppliers posted declines in their exported pesticides sales, namely the United Kingdom (down -16.9%), Israel (down -12.5%), South Korea (down -5.5%) and Germany (down -2.2%).
Countries Benefiting from Best Trade Surpluses for Pesticides
The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for pesticides during 2021. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported pesticides and its import purchases for that same commodity.
- China: US$7.1 billion (net export surplus up 5.7% since 2020)
- United States: $2.9 billion (up 13.3%)
- India: $2.6 billion (up 38.2%)
- France: $2.5 billion (up 17.7%)
- Germany: $2.1 billion (down -3.2%)
- Belgium: $1 billion (up 19.1%)
- Israel: $920.1 million (down -12.5%)
- United Kingdom: $666.9 million (up 47.6%)
- South Korea: $540.6 million (down -9.7%)
- Singapore: $408.5 million (up 38.7%)
- Spain: $382.9 million (up 3.5%)
- Hungary: $324.4 million (up 14.2%)
- Austria: $223.1 million (up 29.6%)
- Ireland: $116 million (up 118.2%)
- Japan: $79.4 million (reversing a -$284.7 million deficit)
The People’s Republic of China earned the highest surplus in the international trade of pesticides. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms strong Chinese competitive advantage for this specific product category.
Countries Experiencing Worst Trade Deficits for Pesticides
The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for pesticides during 2021. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported pesticides purchases and its exports for that same commodity.
- Brazil: -US$3.8 billion (net export deficit up 11.7% since 2020)
- Canada: -$1.6 billion (down -1.8%)
- Australia: -$1.02 billion (up 13.3%)
- Ukraine: -$1.01 billion (up 15.4%)
- Thailand: -$639.9 million (up 50.2%)
- Mexico: -$601.9 million (up 69.3%)
- Russia: -$575.8 million (down -9.9%)
- Vietnam: -$565.9 million (up 9.5%)
- Philippines: -$485.9 million (up 20.1%)
- Poland: -$480 million (down -14.1%)
- Nigeria: -$423.1 million (down -18.1%)
- Romania: -$397.6 million (down -3.4%)
- Argentina: -$395 million (down -24.4%)
- Bangladesh: -$378.7 million (up 33.1%)
- Chile: -$355.4 million (up 17.7%)
South America’s biggest country, Brazil incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of pesticides. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights Brazil’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for pesticides-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful demand.
Major Pesticides Classification Groups
Below are the major groupings for pesticides based on the Compendium of Pesticide Common Names.
- Acaricides
- Algicides
- Antifeedants
- Avicides
- Bactericides
- Bird repellents
- Chemical classes
- Chemosterilants
- Fungicides
- Herbicide safeners
- Herbicides
- Insect attractants
- Insect repellents
- Insecticides
- Mammal repellents
- Mating disrupters
- Miscellaneous
- Molluscicides
- Nematicides
- Plant activators
- Plant growth regulators
- Rodenticides
- Synergists
- Virucides
Searchable List of Pesticides Exporting Countries in 2021
The 100 key exporters of pesticides showcased in the following automated database sold 99.9% of the overall value for exported pesticides during 2021.
| Rank | Exporter | Pesticide Exports | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | China | $8,009,561,000 | +5.1% |
| 2. | United States | $4,770,469,000 | +7.5% |
| 3. | France | $4,581,726,000 | +6.7% |
| 4. | India | $4,499,386,000 | +31.5% |
| 5. | Germany | $3,847,183,000 | -2.2% |
| 6. | Belgium | $1,972,749,000 | +8.8% |
| 7. | Spain | $1,437,328,000 | +2.3% |
| 8. | United Kingdom | $1,301,915,000 | -16.9% |
| 9. | Israel | $1,045,317,000 | -12.5% |
| 10. | Italy | $942,269,000 | +13.1% |
| 11. | Hungary | $855,910,000 | +5.4% |
| 12. | South Korea | $756,167,000 | -5.5% |
| 13. | Netherlands | $681,329,000 | +13.8% |
| 14. | Japan | $670,665,000 | +0.3% |
| 15. | Singapore | $540,999,000 | +9.1% |
| 16. | Austria | $506,619,000 | +6.9% |
| 17. | Poland | $503,972,000 | +27.8% |
| 18. | Colombia | $444,071,000 | +18.2% |
| 19. | Denmark | $411,600,000 | -1.7% |
| 20. | Brazil | $359,343,000 | +10.5% |
| 21. | Indonesia | $351,938,000 | +30.6% |
| 22. | South Africa | $319,955,000 | +2.5% |
| 23. | Malaysia | $319,935,000 | +2.7% |
| 24. | Mexico | $318,733,000 | -37.7% |
| 25. | Argentina | $254,507,000 | +93.5% |
| 26. | Thailand | $245,173,000 | +9.5% |
| 27. | Ireland | $242,124,000 | +31.1% |
| 28. | Russia | $233,102,000 | +16.4% |
| 29. | Switzerland | $226,469,000 | +26.2% |
| 30. | Taiwan | $221,204,000 | +2.8% |
| 31. | Guatemala | $216,039,000 | +3% |
| 32. | Romania | $193,966,000 | +16.7% |
| 33. | Canada | $191,985,000 | -20.4% |
| 34. | Australia | $191,258,000 | +14.3% |
| 35. | Turkey | $176,248,000 | -53.1% |
| 36. | Greece | $159,925,000 | +3.6% |
| 37. | Vietnam | $148,561,000 | -19.2% |
| 38. | Czech Republic | $147,073,000 | -2.1% |
| 39. | Portugal | $139,611,000 | +1.8% |
| 40. | Slovenia | $130,419,000 | +11.5% |
| 41. | Belarus | $106,809,000 | +6.2% |
| 42. | Costa Rica | $103,748,000 | +8% |
| 43. | Norway | $88,425,000 | +52.3% |
| 44. | Bulgaria | $83,403,000 | -1.9% |
| 45. | Chile | $70,639,000 | -4.7% |
| 46. | Paraguay | $67,654,000 | +191.4% |
| 47. | Sweden | $66,338,000 | -31.7% |
| 48. | Lithuania | $50,019,000 | -13.2% |
| 49. | Uruguay | $49,781,000 | +32.7% |
| 50. | United Arab Emirates | $49,546,000 | -71.9% |
| 51. | Hong Kong | $48,496,000 | -50.3% |
| 52. | Serbia | $39,224,000 | +19.2% |
| 53. | Peru | $36,272,000 | +18% |
| 54. | Kenya | $32,815,000 | -8.2% |
| 55. | Slovakia | $32,090,000 | +5.5% |
| 56. | Panama | $30,436,000 | +17.3% |
| 57. | Croatia | $27,933,000 | -29.7% |
| 58. | Dominican Republic | $25,166,000 | +40.4% |
| 59. | New Zealand | $23,899,000 | -57.2% |
| 60. | Nigeria | $22,315,000 | +111.4% |
| 61. | Finland | $19,659,000 | +22.7% |
| 62. | Estonia | $18,458,000 | -37% |
| 63. | Kazakhstan | $17,829,000 | -8.9% |
| 64. | Ukraine | $17,295,000 | -17% |
| 65. | Egypt | $16,675,000 | -3.7% |
| 66. | Jordan | $13,394,000 | -76.5% |
| 67. | Barbados | $13,165,000 | -36.8% |
| 68. | El Salvador | $12,894,000 | +88.1% |
| 69. | Latvia | $11,681,000 | -61.2% |
| 70. | Ecuador | $10,498,000 | +34.8% |
| 71. | Saudi Arabia | $10,423,000 | -42.9% |
| 72. | Philippines | $7,154,000 | +222.8% |
| 73. | Trinidad/Tobago | $7,088,000 | +2.7% |
| 74. | Ivory Coast | $5,488,000 | -82.1% |
| 75. | Luxembourg | $5,414,000 | -54.8% |
| 76. | Oman | $5,020,000 | -76.6% |
| 77. | Tunisia | $4,753,000 | -32.5% |
| 78. | Seychelles | $4,585,000 | 0% |
| 79. | Tanzania | $4,441,000 | -65.9% |
| 80. | Morocco | $3,196,000 | +8.9% |
| 81. | Pakistan | $3,088,000 | -14.1% |
| 82. | Cambodia | $2,862,000 | +36% |
| 83. | Iran | $2,826,000 | -52.1% |
| 84. | Zambia | $2,740,000 | +31.8% |
| 85. | Uganda | $2,674,000 | -16.7% |
| 86. | Bangladesh | $1,820,000 | +370.3% |
| 87. | Lebanon | $1,760,000 | -64.5% |
| 88. | Honduras | $1,740,000 | -76.5% |
| 89. | Uzbekistan | $1,515,000 | -36% |
| 90. | Suriname | $1,199,000 | +167% |
| 91. | Bahrain | $1,168,000 | -72.1% |
| 92. | Cyprus | $987,000 | +135% |
| 93. | Zimbabwe | $982,000 | -12.8% |
| 94. | Ghana | $967,000 | -60.8% |
| 95. | Nicaragua | $813,000 | +3.3% |
| 96. | Malta | $728,000 | -18.3% |
| 97. | Senegal | $677,000 | -30.1% |
| 98. | Mozambique | $669,000 | +28.4% |
| 99. | Kyrgyzstan | $542,000 | +73.2% |
| 100. | Jamaica | $524,000 | +8.7% |
Focusing on the 100 major exporters, triple-digit growers were Bangladesh (up 370.3% from 2020), Philippines (up 222.8%), Paraguay (up 191.4%), Suriname (up 167%), Cyprus (up 135%), then Nigeria (up 111.4%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of the above table’s columns. Note tha an entry of 0% in the right-most column means 2020 data was unavailable.
See also Top Soap Exporters by Country, Chemical Exports by Country, Top Fertilizers Exports by Country and Top Markets for Buying Imported Pharmaceutical Drugs
Research Sources:
Alan Wood, Classified lists of pesticides. Accessed on September 12, 2022
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for pesticides. Accessed on September 12, 2022
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on September 12, 2022
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on September 12, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 12, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 12, 2022
