The Agricultural Fumigants Market is anticipated to witness substantial growth, projected to increase from USD 2.2 billion in 2021 to USD 2.7 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period. This growth is fueled by the rising adoption of advanced storage technology to protect crops against pests and maintain crop quality, ultimately preventing post-harvest losses.
Drivers: Increase in focus on the reduction of post-harvest losses
Efforts to reduce post-harvest food losses, crucial for ensuring food security, are steering the growth of the agricultural fumigants market. Fumigation technology plays a key role in pest prevention, effectively controlling issues like decay in citrus and green mold/blue mold in fruits. The thorough cleaning of storage areas, silos, or warehouses further adds to the appeal of fumigation technology, employed both pre- and post-harvest for grain storage.
Restraints: Accumulation of residue during fumigation
One challenge associated with fumigation is the potential accumulation of residue in treated materials. The amount of residue depends on various factors, including fumigation conditions and the treatment of the material. Fumigants with high boiling points may linger as residues for an extended period, and those reacting with plant or animal constituents can leave substantial residue.
Opportunities: New product launches as alternatives for methyl bromide fumigation
The phasing out of methyl bromide and the increasing tolerance of pests have paved the way for alternative fumigants such as phosphine, sulfuryl fluoride, carbonyl sulfide, and others. Manufacturers are capitalizing on this opportunity by investing in research and development to launch new products with active ingredients that can effectively manage stored products and quarantine pests.
Challenges: Increasing labor costs and other expenses
The agricultural fumigants market faces challenges related to regulatory compliance and the need to find suitable fumigants for varied applications. Additionally, the high labor costs associated with applying fumigants using handheld or manual injectors pose a significant challenge. Skilled operators, certified fumigators, are essential for the highly technical fumigation procedure, requiring specialized equipment and gas measurement devices.
Key players in this market, including BASF SE, Syngenta, ADAMA, ARKEMA, Nufarm, Solvay, Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc., SGS SA, UPL, AMVAC, Trinity Manufacturing, Inc., Douglas Products, Intertek, Nippon Chemical Industrial Co., LTD., and MustGrow Biologics, Inc., are actively contributing to the growth and development of the agricultural fumigants sector.
