Multinational companies such as Bayer, Syngenta, Corteva, BASF, and FMC provide products to a well-organized distribution channel. A vast number of crop protection products sold in South Africa are locally formulated using imported ingredients from China, the United States, France, and Germany. Companies importing, manufacturing, and distributing agrochemicals are members of CropLife South Africa, which represents the crop protection industry in the region.
The South African crop protection market is the largest in Africa and serves farmers in the row crop, horticulture, citrus, nuts, and vines in the deciduous, subtropical, and forestry markets. Corn, soybean, sunflower, and cotton are the most important row crops produced in the summer rainfall area, with wheat and canola produced in the winter rainfall area.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains a concern in the entire agricultural value chain in South Africa. South Africa is largely dependent on Russia for ammonium nitrate used to produce fertilizer. The war is also impacting South African fruit exports, especially citrus exports to Russia, and growers are forced to find alternative markets.
Crop protection companies are also investing in biological products. The biological product segment of the market has significantly grown compared to conventional chemistry solutions, particularly in the export crop segment, where strict European Union regulations on chemical residues and controlled substances are forcing growers to look for alternatives.
Source: agribusinessglobal.com