Africa Fungicide - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The growing focus on protecting the yield and avoiding crop losses due to disease infestation is driving the market

• In 2022, the foliar segment held a significant share, which is expected to grow the fastest among applications with a 3.0% CAGR during the forecast period. This segment's growth is driven by the increased advantages of foliar use due to its systemic effect and compatibility with other treatments.
• Seed treatment holds the second-largest market share and is projected to record a 2.8% CAGR during the forecast period (2023-2029). Farmers in the country have adopted a common practice of pesticide seed treatment to improve seed performance and protect against diseases.
• Chemigation accounted for 12.3% of the African fungicide market value in 2022. This method is projected to record a 2.6% CAGR during the forecast period. In Africa, farmers are experiencing growing agricultural productivity as a result of adopting an irrigation system. This is likely to stimulate the growth of this segment over the coming years.
• The soil treatment method is anticipated to register a 2.7% CAGR during the period 2023-2029. The adoption of such application techniques was high among farmers in the region due to its various benefits, for instance, growers being able to control soil pests and those attacking aerial parts of the plant with a systemic fungicide.
• Studies have shown that fumigants are highly effective in controlling diseases and improving yields by protecting against soil-borne diseases. For instance, dazomet (DZ) fumigation was found to be 89.62% to 93.33% effective against fusarium and phytophthora. Due to these factors, the demand for fumigants is expected to increase.
• The fungicide market is projected to record a 3.3% CAGR during the period 2023-2029. African farmers are adopting different methods based on their requirements to protect crops and ensure optimal yields.

Increased awareness among farmers for using fungicides to protect crops is boosting the market

• The fungicide market in Africa witnessed steady growth during the historical period, with the region occupying a share of 2.6%, by value, of the global fungicides market in 2022. Mancozeb and systemic fungicides such as metalaxyl and benzimidazoles are the most frequently used fungicides in the region.
• Maize is the most important staple crop cultivated throughout Africa, with leading maize-producing countries being Nigeria, South Africa, and Ethiopia. Fungicides are mostly used in grains and cereals in the region as it is the largest exporter and producer of staple grains such as maize and wheat. The segment occupied a share of 43.1%, by value, in 2022.
• Similarly, 97% of yam is produced in the West African countries of the region. Anthracnose disease of yam is the most devastating fungal disease, leading to 50-90% losses. The control of yam anthracnose has been accomplished mainly with chemical fungicides such as benomyl (benlate), maneb, chlorothalonil, and mancozeb, which require biweekly or monthly applications.
• The occurrence of fungicide resistance presents a big challenge as it limits fungicide choices for effective disease management. At the same time, governments of various countries are investing in research initiatives to discover new diseases and their subsequent fungicides, along with supportive schemes for farmers.
• Such policies initiated by the government and a rise in awareness among farmers have further encouraged farmers to adopt crop protection practices that aim to expand the market, which is anticipated to record a CAGR of 2.9% during the forecast period (2023-2029).

Africa Fungicide Market Trends

African climatic conditions ranging from semi-tropic to semi-arid favor the proliferation of fungal pathogens

• Phytopathogenic fungi are fungi that cause diseases in plants. Fungal infections can weaken the overall health of plants, leading to stunted growth. Infected plants may exhibit reduced height, smaller leaves, and fewer branches, which can directly translate into lower crop yields. Fungi can also disrupt the hormonal balance within plants, affecting their development and overall productivity.
• The fungicide consumption rate in Africa was 2.2 kg/ha in the year 2022. Africa is a continent with diverse environmental conditions. The climatic conditions range from semi-tropic to semi-arid. Although the majority of African countries have summer rainfall, the southwestern coastal region is predominantly a winter rainfall area. These variations in climate allow infestation of a large number of fungal diseases.
• Certain crops are more susceptible to fungal diseases, and their importance varies across regions in Africa. For example, maize is a staple crop in many Sub-Saharan African countries and is affected by diseases like maize rust and maize smut. Cassava, another crucial staple crop, is susceptible to diseases such as cassava brown streak disease and cassava mosaic disease. Additionally, coffee, bananas, tomatoes, and other crops are also susceptible to various fungal pathogens like rusts and mosaics.
• Commercial farming is expanding in Africa, with larger-scale agricultural operations and increased cultivation of high-value cash crops. Commercial farmers often rely on fungicides to protect their crops from fungal diseases and maximize yields. Such factors are expected to drive the demand for fungicides in the commercial farming industry during the forecast period.

Need for preventive and curative disease control fungicides and their limited production capabilities resulting in fluctuations in the prices of active ingredients

• In the African region, fungicides such as mancozeb, azoxystrobin, metalaxyl, propineb, and ziram play a crucial role in agricultural practices. They are widely utilized to combat various fungal diseases that pose significant threats to crops, including cereals, fruits, vegetables, and cash crops.
• The price of mancozeb stood at USD 7,793.2 per metric ton in 2022. This fungicide is a contact-type product widely applied on various crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, field crops, and professionally managed turf. Its effectiveness extends to combat numerous fungal diseases, including potato blight, leaf spot, scab, and rust.
• Azoxystrobin, a systemic and broad-spectrum preventive fungicide, holds the position of the second most widely used fungicide in the region. It exhibits both systemic and curative properties, effectively controlling various significant plant diseases and enhancing crop yield. China serves as the primary supplier of azoxystrobin to the region, while South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, and Djibouti are the major importing countries. The price of this active ingredient, which was at USD 4,579.6 per metric ton, can be influenced by factors such as importing tariffs, regulatory approvals, and customs duties, leading to fluctuations in its cost.
• Between 2018 and 2022, the price of metalaxyl experienced a notable rise, with an increase of USD 542.20 per metric ton. Currently, it stands at USD 4,454.0 per metric ton. Metalaxyl is a systemic fungicide known for its protective and curative properties. It is absorbed through the leaves, stems, and roots of plants, effectively controlling diseases like late blight, early blight, leaf spot, and downy mildew. The cost of the active ingredient may vary due to fluctuating raw material prices.

Africa Fungicide Industry Overview

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support