Asia Pacific Molluscicide - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Asia Pacific Molluscicide Market size is estimated at 279.34 million USD in 2024, and is expected to reach 343.60 million USD by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.23% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Foliar application dominates molluscicide applications owing to its quick action

• Slugs and snails eat a wide array of broadleaf plants and grasses, including most crops and many weeds. They harm crops by killing seedlings, causing poor stands, and damaging leaves on young plants. Hence, the management of slugs is of utmost importance to get better yields in the susceptible crops. The Asia-Pacific molluscicide market was valued at USD 256.3 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 343.6 million by the end of the forecast period.
• Brown garden snails, giant African snails, rice field slugs, Chinese slugs, and keelback slugs are some of the major slug and snail species that can pose significant challenges to crop production in Asia-Pacific. Metaldehyde, iron phosphate, methiocarb, and sodium ferric EDTA are commonly used molluscicides.
• Molluscicides can be applied through different methods. In Asia-Pacific, foliar application dominated in molluscicide application, accounting for the largest market share of 54.8% in 2022. Foliar-applied molluscicides can provide quick control of mollusk populations. When sprayed onto the foliage, the molluscicides can be readily absorbed by the pests as they come into contact with it. This can lead to rapid mortality.
• Soil treatment accounted for the second largest market share of 30.4% of the Asia-Pacific molluscicide market in 2022. Recent advances in the development of enhanced wettable powders, granules, and bait formulations with improved stability, adherence, and attractiveness to snails and slugs will drive the soil treatment. The market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period (2023-2029).

Increased need for molluscicides in major crops like rice is driving the market

• The molluscicides market in Asia-Pacific witnessed steady growth during the historical period, with the region occupying the second-highest share of 28.3% by value of the global molluscicide market in 2022.
• Snail farming failed in Asia as snails destroyed the growing rice crops, causing severe economic losses as rice farms are the region's major source of food and income. The golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, has been introduced to several Asian countries, where it has unexpectedly developed into a rice pest. Most farmers have resorted to chemical control, including the use of molluscicides, and have adopted integrated snail management practices.
• Rice is by far the most important crop throughout Asia, where 90% of the world's production and consumption occurs in this region. Molluscicides are mostly used in grains and cereals in Asia-Pacific as the region is the largest exporter and producer of staple grains such as rice. The segment occupied a share of 56.8% by value in 2022.
• Similarly, mollusk attacks on fruit crops have also been on the rise in the region, leading to farmers adopting chemical control methods to protect their crops. Fruits and vegetables occupied a share of 18.5% by value in 2022.
• Although control strategies are urgently needed in the region, researchers have suggested that farmers must have a sound knowledge of the ecology of snails to adopt the right application strategy for molluscicides. At the same time, initiatives by governments of various countries and innovations by manufacturers are expected to drive the molluscicide market in the region at a CAGR of 1.3% during the forecast period (2023-2029).

Asia Pacific Molluscicide Market Trends

The increasing mollusk population is leading to higher application per hectare

• Japan is the largest per hectare consumer of molluscicides, with 100.0 grams in 2022. Snails are common pests that feed on a wide range of crops in Japan. However, the apple snail, an invasive species, poses a significant threat to rice cultivation in Japan, particularly in Kyushu. It is considered a major hindrance to the adoption of direct-sowing practices in rice farming. To address this problem, the use of molluscicides and repellents by farmers has increased and proven to be an effective strategy in mitigating the impact caused by the apple snail invasion.
• Australia is by far the second-highest per hectare consumer of molluscicides in Asia-Pacific, with 13.2 grams per hectare in 2022. African giant snail (Lissachatina fulica) is considered a major pest in Australia due to its ability to reproduce rapidly and feed on a wide range of plants, including crops, ornamental plants, and native vegetation. It has a voracious appetite and can cause significant damage to gardens, crops, and natural habitats, leading to severe economic losses.
• The Philippines, Vietnam, and China were other prominent countries using molluscicides at the rate of 9.9 grams, 8.4 grams, and 7.1 grams per hectare, respectively, in 2022. Golden apple snails are the major threat to rice production in these countries as they cut the rice stem at the base, destroying the whole plant and leading to annual yield losses of up to 50%, especially in irrigated rice fields, according to the International Rice Research Institute.
• Few of the snail species like golden apple snails can grow and reproduce quickly, making it very difficult to control, leading to higher usage of molluscicides in the countries of Asia-Pacific.

The major drivers for this market include the increasing adoption of agrochemicals and the infestation of golden apple snails in the rice fields of Asia

• Slugs usually feed above and below the soil surface, damaging seeds, shoots, and roots. In some crops, the main problem time is at planting, while in others, problems occur during the growing season or harvest. These mollusk species have become one of the major threats causing huge agricultural losses. These species are majorly seen in cereal crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and horticultural crops. Deroceras, Milax, Tandonia, Limax, and Arion are recognized as important mollusks causing economic losses in the crops.
• Metaldehyde is a molluscicide used in a variety of vegetables and crops in fields, gardens, and greenhouses. It is applied in the form of liquid, granules, sprays, dust, or pelleted/grain bait to kill slugs and snails. Metaldehyde was valued at USD 52.5 thousand per metric ton in 2022.
• Ferric phosphate is a molluscicide for use in cereals, oilseed rape, potatoes, and a wide range of horticultural crops and was valued at USD 52.0 thousand per metric ton in 2022. Iron phosphate interferes with the calcium metabolism within the slug and eventually causes cellular pathological changes in the slug’s crop and hepatopancreas. This process from feeding to dying normally takes about three to six days.
• The major drivers for this market include increasing adoption of agrochemicals, rising demand for high-value horticulture crops, and infestation of golden apple snails in the rice fields of Asia. Further, increasing awareness of mollusk control among farmers and the introduction of innovative molluscicide products are expected to create growth opportunities for this market during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific Molluscicide Industry Overview

The Asia Pacific Molluscicide Market is fragmented, with the top five companies occupying 14.21%. The major players in this market are American Vanguard Corporation, Arxada, Nufarm Ltd, PI Industries and UPL Limited (sorted alphabetically).

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