China Insecticides (HS: 380891) Export Analysis, January–July 2026

Key Findings: Moderate Growth, Structure Highly Concentrated in "Other Retail-Packaged Insecticides" and a Single-Dominant Brazilian Market

     In January–July 2026, China's insecticide exports (HS code 380891) reached approximately USD 1.555 billion, up 7.47% year-on-year; export volume was approximately 472,900 tonnes, with 5,735 transactions for the year and an average price of USD 3.29/kg. The export structure shows a dual characteristic of "single-product concentration and single-pole dominance within a dispersed market": one subcategory—other insecticides put up for retail sale—alone accounted for 70.42% of export value. In terms of destination markets, Brazil alone accounted for 26.30% of value, more than five times that of any of the other nine countries in the top ten. The monthly trend was weak at first and then strengthened, with June posting a year-on-year increase of 26.33%, the peak for the year, while January and July were basically flat compared with the same period last year.

I. Export Data Overview

     Data Note: The source table provides the January–July 2026 value and corresponding year-on-year growth rate for each subcategory and each country, but does not directly provide 2025 absolute values. The "2025" column in the monthly comparison table was calculated by back-calculating each subcategory's monthly value as "monthly value ÷ (1 + monthly year-on-year growth rate)" and then summing them, in order to calculate overall monthly year-on-year changes; this is consistent with the full-year year-on-year figures for each subcategory given in the source table within the range of rounding. Volume (kg) is available only as an annual total, with no monthly breakdown; therefore, the monthly dimension in this report presents only value, while volume analysis is concentrated in the annual structure table and destination market table.

1. Monthly Export Value Comparison (USD)

2. Export Commodity Structure (by HS Subcategory, USD / kg)

II. Export Destination Market Analysis, January–July 2026

High-unit-price markets: Brazil ($5.72/kg), Bangladesh ($5.33/kg), Vietnam ($3.74/kg)

High-volume markets: Brazil (71,464,241 kg), Myanmar (61,321,067 kg), Cambodia (29,995,586 kg)

High-transaction-frequency markets: Vietnam (153), Thailand (142), Indonesia (127)

Top 10 Export Destinations by Value

III. In-Depth Data Interpretation

Commodity Structure: One Product Supports 70% of Export Value

     "Other insecticides put up for retail sale" is the only major variable for the overall picture. This subcategory contributed USD 1.095 billion in export value, accounting for 70.42% of the total and 59.13% of transactions, making it the absolute dominant category. Its full-year year-on-year growth of +8.13% was almost in sync with the overall +7.47%, meaning that the overall trend of China's insecticide exports is basically determined by this category. "Insecticides not put up for retail sale" accounted for 24.65%, up +8.35% year-on-year, and is the second pillar. Together, the two accounted for nearly 95% of both value and volume, indicating extremely high structural concentration, with new categories contributing little incremental growth.

    Both mosquito coils and biological insecticides recorded negative growth; biological insecticides have the highest unit price but the smallest volume. Mosquito coils put up for retail sale (-4.42%) and biological insecticides put up for retail sale (-7.34%) were the only two subcategories with negative growth. Although biological insecticides have a unit price as high as USD 23.05/kg (seven times the overall average), their export value was only USD 8.11 million, accounting for 0.52%, placing them at a very early stage of cultivation. Their year-on-year decline more reflects base fluctuations than a trend of structural contraction. As a mature category, the negative growth of mosquito coils is related to the seasonality of global mosquito-borne diseases and competition from substitute categories, and attention should be paid to the risk of local production substitution in Southeast Asia.

Monthly Rhythm: Weak at First, Then Strong; June Was the Peak of the Year

     January (-4.51%) and March (-17.41%) started weakly; February jumped +44.81% due to the misalignment of the Spring Festival and a low base; April–June recorded consecutive positive growth, with June hitting a peak of +26.33% for the year; July fell back to -0.10%, basically flat with last year. This "mid-year surge" rhythm is highly consistent with the peak agricultural planting and pest control seasons in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia—procurement in markets such as Brazil, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire was concentrated in the second quarter.

Destination Market Landscape: Brazil Single Pole + Multi-Point Support from Asia and Africa

     Brazil: Single-Pole Core, High Unit Price + Large Orders, Low Frequency. Brazil alone accounted for 26.30% of value at USD 409 million, with a unit price of USD 5.72/kg, the highest among the top ten markets, and an average transaction value of USD 4.05 million (the highest among the top ten). Its 101 transactions reflect a "large orders, low frequency" pattern. Brazil is the world's largest producer of soybeans, coffee, and sugarcane, and its demand for insecticides combines volume and quality requirements, making it an irreplaceable core market for China's agrochemical exports. Its full-year growth of +8.67% was moderate, indicating that existing cooperation is solid, but the growth rate is already lower than that of most countries on the list.

     Southeast Asia: Main Volume Driver and High-Frequency Customers Coexist. Thailand (5.22%, 142 transactions), Vietnam (2.88%, 153), Indonesia (2.94%, 127), Cambodia (3.20%, 115), and Myanmar (2.83%, 97) all ranked in the top ten, and their transaction frequencies were generally higher than Brazil's. Among them, Myanmar ranked second in volume with 61.32 million kg, but its unit price was only USD 0.72/kg—a typical "low-price, high-volume" characteristic, corresponding to the re-export and self-use of low-end retail products such as mosquito coils. Southeast Asia is both a stable high-frequency procurement group and a key region for Chinese agrochemical companies' localisation efforts.

     Africa: The Fastest-Growing Source of Increment. Ghana (+15.17%), Côte d'Ivoire (+18.69%), and Nigeria (+12.57%), three West African countries, all achieved double-digit growth, significantly higher than Brazil. This is the joint result of Belt and Road agrochemical cooperation and local agricultural modernisation needs. The African market has relatively low unit prices (USD 2.5–2.7/kg) and small single procurement scales, but its growth certainty is strong, making it the incremental segment with the greatest imaginative space over the next three years.

IV. 2026 Export Trend Outlook

Positive Factors

    •Sustained global pest pressure: Climate change is increasing the frequency of pests such as aphids and fall armyworms, keeping rigid demand for pesticides stable.

    •China's technical material capacity and cost advantages: China is the world's largest pesticide technical material production base, with a complete supply chain and outstanding cost competitiveness.

    •Rapid growth in emerging markets: Many countries in West Africa and Southeast Asia are recording double-digit year-on-year growth, providing clear increments.

    •Product structure shifting toward higher value-added: Although biological insecticides are small in volume, their unit price is seven times the average, leaving large room for long-term upgrading.

Negative Factors

    •High market dependence on Brazil: A single country accounts for 26.30%; fluctuations in its policies, exchange rate, or procurement rhythm would directly impact the overall picture.

    •Single product structure: A single subcategory accounts for 70%, resulting in weak risk resistance; once this category encounters trade barriers, it will cause a systemic shock.

    •Tightening environmental and registration compliance: Pesticide residue and registration requirements in the EU, Brazil, and elsewhere continue to escalate, raising entry thresholds.

    •Local production substitution: Southeast Asia and India are accelerating the construction of local pesticide production capacity, which may squeeze China's export share in the medium to long term.

Trend Forecast

    •Full-year export value expected to grow steadily by 6%–10%: Based on the first-half growth of +7.47% and the characteristics of a later peak season, 2026 insecticide export value is expected to reach USD 2.6–2.7 billion.

    •Brazil's share may slowly decline: Its growth rate (+8.67%) is lower than that of most countries on the list, and its value share will be mildly diluted as emerging markets expand.

    •Africa to become the primary incremental engine: The double-digit growth trend of the three West African countries is expected to continue, with their combined share for the full year potentially rising by 1–2 percentage points.

    •Biological insecticide share to rise slowly: Driven by global green agriculture policies, the export value share of biological insecticides is expected to gradually move from 0.52% toward 1%.

V. Foreign Trade Recommendations

Market Layout Strategy

    •Hold the Brazilian base: Brazil has high unit prices and large single transaction values, making it the core of both profit and scale. Technical services and registration support must be maintained to prevent share loss.

    •Heavily position in African increments: Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nigeria are leading in growth. It is recommended to deploy local agents and crop solution teams to seize the window of opportunity.

    •Deepen high-frequency Southeast Asian customers: Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia have high transaction frequencies and dispersed customers, making them suitable for developing regional distribution networks and small and medium-sized customer systems.

Product Strategy Recommendations

    •Reduce dependence on a single category: In response to the structural risk of "other retail-packaged" products accounting for 70%, diversify and cultivate second growth curves such as non-retail technical materials and biological insecticides.

    •Increase the share of biological insecticides: With a unit price of USD 23/kg and alignment with global green trends, they should be a key high-value-added strategic category with focused investment in registration and production capacity.

    •Differentiated pricing: Maintain quality premiums in high-price markets such as Brazil, while shipping cost-effective products at scale in low-price volume markets such as Myanmar.

Compliance and Risk Control Recommendations

    •Front-load registration layout: Pesticide registration in Brazil and the EU has long cycles and high requirements; product registration in target markets must be planned 1–2 years in advance.

    •Exchange rate and settlement management: Exports are settled in US dollars, while the Brazilian real and West African franc are highly volatile; forward tools are recommended to lock in settlement costs.

    •Monitor local substitution capacity: Track the progress of pesticide capacity expansion in India and Southeast Asia, and build moats in product structure and cost in advance.

Channel and Operations Recommendations

    •Bind large customers for direct procurement: Large Brazilian customers with average single transactions of USD 4.05 million are highly dependent on technical solutions; it is recommended to provide full crop solutions rather than simply supplying goods.

    •Participate in international agrochemical exhibitions: Agrishow in Brazil, Agrochem in India, and Brazilian agrochemical exhibitions are important channels for reaching core customers.

    •Build local warehousing: Establish bonded warehouses in Brazil and West African hubs to shorten delivery cycles and smooth peak-season logistics bottlenecks.

Conclusion

    In the first seven months of 2026, China's insecticide exports delivered a report card of "moderate growth and structural rigidification." The 7.47% value growth is not impressive, but against the backdrop of pressured global agrochemical demand and rising trade barriers, it is still a solid result. What truly deserves vigilance is the highly concentrated structure behind the data: one "other retail-packaged insecticide" supports 70% of export value, and one Brazilian market accounts for a quarter of the value. This structure is efficiency in favourable times, but vulnerability in adverse times.

    The certainty of future growth comes more from increments in Africa and Southeast Asia than from deepening the existing Brazilian stock. For export companies, the most pragmatic choice now is to hold the Brazilian profit base while tilting resources toward high-growth West African markets, high-frequency Southeast Asian customer groups, and high-value-added biological insecticides. Whoever takes the first step in structural optimisation will be able to seize the initiative in the next round of industry reshuffling.