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

Soil applications dominate the North American herbicide market

• Weeds are a major contributor to yield loss and reduced quality in an agricultural system. They compete with the crop for light, water, and nutrients. Weeds can also harm crop plants by acting as reservoirs for destructive insect vectors that move pathogens from plant to plant. Using herbicides is the most effective weed management tool, as they are cheaper, require less labor, and save more time than other measures. Several herbicide application techniques can be used to control various weeds.
• Soil application dominated the North American herbicide market, accounting for a market share of 48.9% in 2022. Mainly, pre-emergence herbicides can be applied through soil treatment. By reducing weed pressures early on, crops can get off to a strong start in the cropping season. With different active ingredients and application timings, soil-active herbicides can help tackle troublesome resistant weeds and slow down the development of herbicide resistance. Among the pre-emergence herbicides, the three most commonly used and the most effective through soil treatment are oxadiazon, pendimethalin, and pretilachlor.
• Foliar application is the second most used method to apply herbicides in North America, accounting for a market share of 29.7% in the year 2022. Post-emergence herbicides will be applied through this method. A post-emergence herbicide must move from the leaf surface and reach the target site to be effective. As herbicide is applied to photosynthesize foliage actively, the leaves take up the chemical and either directly impact the leaf tissue or translocate the herbicide to other parts of the plants. The foliar segment is expected to record significant growth during the forecast period.

The United States dominated the market due to increased yield losses because of weed infestation

• Weeds are a major biotic constraint to production in different cropping systems of North America. Yield losses in crops due to weeds depend on several factors, such as weed emergence time, weed density, the type of weed, and the type of crops. If left uncontrolled, weeds can result in 100% yield loss. Herbicides are an integral part of weed control.
• The United States dominated the market, accounting for a market share of 85.5% in 2022. It is one of the world's largest wheat producers and exporters. However, wheat yield losses caused by weeds pose a serious threat to the country's wheat production and farmers' economic prosperity. In 2022, the WSSA's Weed Loss Committee estimated the winter wheat yield loss at approximately 25.6% due to weeds. The WSSA Weed Loss Committee found that the use of herbicides combined with best management practices resulted in a decrease in wheat yield loss from 60% to 20%.
• Canada accounted for 9.0% of the North American herbicide market in 2022. Canola is the major crop grown in the country. Average canola yield losses due to weeds varied by province/state. Alberta had the highest yield losses, estimated at 34.6%, a loss of 72 million bushels, based on the average harvested area and average yield. Saskatchewan had an estimated yield loss of 30.2%, a loss of 86 million bushels. Manitoba's estimated yield loss was 18.1%, resulting in a loss of 19 million bushels. North Dakota had an estimated yield loss of 27.9%, resulting in a loss of 11 million bushels in 2022.
• The increase in weed infestations, which greatly impacts the increasing domestic and international demand, and increasing concerns for food security are driving the market. The market is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period (2023-2029).

North America Herbicide Market Trends

Advancements in herbicide formulations are driving adoption among North American farmers

• Herbicide consumption in North America has been increasing since 2017 and reached 5.6 kg per hectare of cropland. The United States is the largest consumer per hectare, with 2.7 kg/hectare in 2022.
• The increase in the emergence and spread of herbicide-resistant weeds has been an increasing concern for farmers in North America, resulting in the application of higher amounts of herbicides or multiple herbicides to control herbicide-resistant weeds. For instance, Palmer amaranth and common water hemp are resistant to glyphosate, Horseweed and Giant ragweed are resistant to multiple herbicides, and Kochia is resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicides.
• Moreover, conservation tillage practices, such as no-till and reduced-till farming, have gained popularity in North America due to their environmental and soil health benefits. For instance, the number of farms practicing intensive tillage in the United States declined by 35% between 2012 and 2017, and a similar trend was observed in Canadian and Mexican agricultural farms. This decrease in intensive tillage has caused heavy reliance on herbicides to effectively control weeds.
• In addition, there is a growing demand for high-yielding crops to meet increasing food and feed requirements, which is boosting the need for higher herbicide usage. Farmers may rely on increased herbicide usage to effectively manage weed competition to maximize crop yields, ensuring optimal crop growth and productivity.
• Advancements in herbicide formulation technologies and the growing popularity of genetically modified crops have enabled farmers to apply herbicides directly to the crop, only affecting the weeds. These trends are further anticipated to increase herbicide usage per hectare of land in North America.

The rising yield losses due to weeds is driving the demand for herbicides, thereby driving the prices of herbicides

• Weed infestation remains a significant challenge in agriculture, causing yield losses and increased production costs for farmers. Atrazine, paraquat, and glyphosate are commonly used herbicides in North America.
• Atrazine, a systemic herbicide classified under the chlorinated triazine group, is employed to specifically target and manage annual grasses and broadleaf weeds before they sprout. Herbicide formulations containing atrazine are approved for application on a range of agricultural crops, such as corn, sweet corn, sorghum, sugarcane, wheat, macadamia nuts, and guava. In addition, atrazine is used in nursery/ornamental and turf management. Its value in 2022 was recorded at USD 13.8 thousand per metric ton.
• Paraquat dichloride, commonly referred to as "paraquat," is a widely utilized herbicide in North America, renowned for its well-known end-use product name, Gramoxone, in the United States. Paraquat assumes a vital role in weed control across a variety of agricultural and non-agricultural settings. Additionally, it finds application in crop desiccation, such as cotton, before harvesting. In the year 2022, paraquat held a price of USD 4.6 thousand per metric ton.
• Glyphosate functions as a systemic and wide-ranging herbicide effective post-emergence. Its utilization has witnessed substantial growth in recent decades, positioning it as one of the most prevalent herbicides. Glyphosate-containing products are available in diverse forms, including liquid concentrate, solid, and ready-to-use liquid. This compound finds application in both agricultural and non-agricultural contexts to manage weed growth. As of 2022, the market value of glyphosate stood at USD 16.6 thousand per metric ton.

North America Herbicide Industry Overview

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