Europe Herbicide - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

In Europe, soil treatment holds the utmost importance as the primary mode of herbicide application

• In Europe, various modes of herbicide application are employed to efficiently manage weeds in agriculture. By selecting appropriate application methods, farmers can achieve cost-effective solutions, ensuring precise coverage of targeted areas and minimizing wastage. This enhanced efficiency optimizes herbicide usage, ultimately leading to reduced input costs for farmers.
• In agricultural practices, soil application stands out as the predominant mode of herbicide usage, which represented 48.2% of the total herbicide application segment in 2022. This method is majorly employed in the cultivation of grains and cereals, which holds the largest market share at 44.7%. The preference for soil treatment of herbicides is driven by their efficacy in protecting the quality of grains and cereals by preventing or minimizing weed growth. They are effective in controlling weeds during their pre-emergent and early growth stages.
• Furthermore, the foliar application method secured the second-largest market share by value, which accounted for 30.5% in 2022. This application technique has proven to be advantageous for weed control, particularly in crops that require accurate targeting, for instance, when applied directly onto the leaves of target plants. This method is effective for controlling post-emergence weeds and is commonly used in many agricultural crops.
• In the European agricultural sector, herbicide usage is focused on optimizing crop productivity and enhancing overall profitability. The market is expected to witness significant growth, with a projected CAGR of 4.0% in terms of the US herbicide market share.

Growing weed infestations in major crops like wheat, maize, and sugar beet and extending cultivation area under this crops may drive the market

• Apart from fungal diseases and insect pests, weeds are becoming a threat to the European agriculture sector, causing huge damage to the major crops in the region. The consumption of herbicides in the region occupied a majority market share, which accounted for 34.9% of the European crop protection chemical market, with a market value of USD 4.93 billion in 2022.
• Grains and cereal crops dominated the European herbicide market with a 61.7% market share in 2022. This dominance was attributed to the higher cultivation area and increased weed infections in these crops. There are numerous weed species causing crop losses. According to an experiment conducted, researchers found 108 weed species in France's wheat crops, and 197 weed species were found in five European countries' wheat cultivations (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Latvia, and Sweden). These increased weed species caused damage to major crops such as wheat, maize, sugar beet, and other crops. On average, every year, uncontrolled weeds cause wheat crop loss of 25-30%, maize crop loss of 60-85%, and sugar beet crop loss of 90-95%.
• The application of herbicide products through soil treatment is gaining popularity in European countries. This application mode occupied a major market share of 48.2% in 2022. The dominance is majorly related to the effectiveness of controlling weeds in the early growth stage, which could give more strength to the crops for faster germination, reducing the herbicide's necessity in the later stages. Due to these benefits, the application mode is projected to grow, registering an estimated CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period.
• The European herbicides market is anticipated to grow, registering a CAGR of 4% during the forecast, driven by increased weed infestations in major crops.

Europe Herbicide Market Trends

Farmers are expected to increasingly rely on herbicides as a key tool to manage weed challenges

• Europe has experienced substantial growth in the consumption of herbicides, primarily driven by various factors. One significant factor is the shortage of workers available for manual weeding, as millions of people have migrated from rural to urban areas. As a result, herbicide usage has emerged as an effective and cost-efficient method to enhance both the quality and quantity of crop yields. This trend was particularly notable from 2019 to 2022, with herbicide consumption in the region increasing by 31.4%.
• Among European countries, Germany and France have high herbicide usage rates compared to others in the region. In 2022, Germany recorded a usage rate of 3.1 thousand per hectare, while France followed closely with 2.8 thousand per hectare. These countries heavily rely on the application of chemical pesticides, including herbicides, to ensure the stability, quantity, and food security of their agricultural production. The persistence and adaptability of weeds have necessitated higher rates of herbicide application in these regions.
• Furthermore, the increasing European population has projected a rapid growth in food demand over the next three decades. Consequently, the demand for herbicides is also expected to rise to meet the increasing need for food production by increasing the yield and protecting crops from harmful weeds.
• Therefore, the rising demand for food, labor shortages, and climate change are expected to drive the consumption of herbicides during the forecast period (2023-2029). Farmers will increasingly rely on herbicides as a key tool over the coming years to address these challenges and meet the increasing food demand, ensuring sustainable agricultural productivity.

Among countries in Europe, the price of glyphosate in 2022 was highest in Germany and France, priced at USD 1.15 thousand per metric ton

• In 2022, Metribuzin was valued at USD 16.7 thousand per metric ton. It represents a synthetic organic compound widely utilized as a herbicide with selective control over specific broadleaf weeds and grassy weed species. The applications of Metribuzin are used in vegetable and field crops, turf grasses in recreational areas, and non-crop areas. Its available formulations include wettable powder, emulsifiable concentrate, water-dispersible granules (dry flowable), and flowable concentrate. Various methods, such as aerial, chemigation, and ground application, are employed for Metribuzin's application.
• Pendimethalin is a pre-emergence herbicide with residual activities that deliver broad-spectrum control against annual grasses and broadleaf weeds across different crops, including horticultural, turf, and forestry. Its primary mode of action involves inhibiting cell division and elongation in susceptible weeds, thus impeding root and shoot growth. In 2022, this herbicide was priced at USD 3.3 thousand per metric ton.
• Glyphosate-based herbicides maintain their position as the most widely used herbicide in Europe, which accounts for 33% of the EU herbicide market. In 2022, the price of glyphosate-based herbicides stood at USD 1.2 thousand per metric ton. The usage of glyphosate-based herbicides continues to witness significant growth, while sales in Europe, especially in larger agricultural member states of the European Union, remain substantial. Data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) indicates a general increase in farmers' spending on pesticides.
• Among EU countries, the price of glyphosate in 2022 was highest in Germany and France, each priced at USD 1.15 thousand per metric ton, followed by the United Kingdom at USD 1.14 thousand per metric ton.

Europe Herbicide Industry Overview

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