Molluscicides Market size is forecast to reach $768.66 Million by 2025, after growing at a CAGR of 4.27% during 2020-2025. With rising crop losses caused by snails and slugs, farmers are increasingly adding molluscicides to the crops. Changes in crop management such as direct drilling and high organic construction have resulted in an increase in slugs and snails population, hampering crop productivity. Chemical methods based on ferric phosphate, metaldehyde, and methiocarbon aid in slug and snail control is expected to drive the growth of the molluscicides industry in the forecast period.
Key Takeaways
- APAC dominates the Molluscicides Market due to the presence of a large number of crop fields and agricultural activities in China, India, and Australia.
- Increasing the use of 'green eco-friendly' mollusk products and increasing awareness of mollusk control throughout the world in the agricultural sector is expected to create potential market opportunities in the forecast period.
- COVID-19 has a devastating impact on the economy. Its effect varies widely among the different segments between different countries, and between producers and agricultural wage laborers. This effect will reverberate through the wider economy and will last more than a couple of months.
Type - Segment Analysis
Chemical Molluscicides are extensively used in Molluscicides Market. The growth of the market for chemical molluscicides is attributed to the increasing adoption of agrochemicals and their use in the growing horticultural crops with high value. Metaldehyde, methiocarb, ferrous phosphate, and others (ferric sodium EDTA and metal salts) are further classified as chemical molluscicides. Over several decades, chemical molluscicide has continued to be commonly used on the market. Chemical molluscicides are useful for pest control, such as for slugs and snails. Manufacturers are making extensive use of chemical molluscicides such as copper sulfate and iron sulfate owing to the effectiveness offered by these products. Also, copper sulfate is the most effective to control grey slug species while iron sulfate is an environmentally friendly chemical that is used by certified organic growers to control slugs.
Form - Segment Analysis
Pellets form held the largest share in the Molluscicides Market in 2019. Molluscicides are pesticides that kill plagues like slugs, snails, etc. In general, molluscicides are used in the form of slug pellets and snail baits. The most common and effective technique used for controlling slugs and snails is by pelleting form. Pellet form has gained a greater market share as opposed to the liquid & gel-type due to their ease of handling. The efficacy of pellets depends in particular on their chemical content, specifically, the presence of constituents that attract slugs and their durability under field conditions.
Application - Segment Analysis
Agriculture held the largest share in the Molluscicides Market in 2019 by growing at a CAGR 5.28% during the forecast period 2020-2025. The mollusk species causes tremendous agricultural losses and is one of the major threats for crops. Damage to snail and slugs crops varies enormously with season and year. Snails and slugs are serious pests, especially for cereals such as wheat, barley, oats, and oilseed, as well as ornamental plants and vegetables. Mollusk feeds on seeds, seedlings, and plants both above and below the surface of the ground, destroying shoots, roots, leaves, and flowers and thus reducing plant standing and crop yields. Hence, molluscicide is increasingly used in agriculture for the protection of crops from mollusk and is anticipated to boost the growth of the global molluscicides market over the forecast period.
Geography- Segment Analysis
The Asia Pacific holds the largest share with 38.95% in 2019 for Molluscicides Market. Molluscicide remains a niche segment of the world market for pesticides. Some mollusk species, especially some snails and slugs, may be severe pests and may cause imbalances in local ecosystems when introduced into new environments. In Asian countries such as India and Malaysia, molluscicides that contain active ingredients such as niclosamide, endosulfan, camellia seed cake (residue), and copper sulfate are often used to control golden snails. Farmers in the Philippines have avoided using molluscicides because of their high cost and adverse effects on humans and livestock, while slugs cause serious crop damage in Australia and New Zealand. Those chemicals are not registered in Japan because of their negative environmental effects. Global molluscicides producer has thus developed innovative and customized products based on regional requirements, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.
Drivers –Molluscicides Market
- Increasing Demand for Food and Decreasing Agricultural Land
The population is increasing exponentially every day, owing to which people are contributing to the global food demand. Farmers, therefore, pursue crop security as the main strategy to meet global food demand. Supplying the growing population with food has become a global threat with a decrease in agricultural land. The use of pesticides on crops is an established technology and developed nations have seen massive demand for molluscicides to increase the global food supply and stop the crops from being deteriorated. People are now taking every measure to boost crop productivity. According to the UN Population Division, by 2050, the largest population growth is projected to occur in Asia (especially in India, China, and Southeast Asia), which accounts for 60% or more of the world population. It is expected that large quantities of crop protection chemicals will be required in this area to increase food production for the increasing population.
- Introduction of green, environmentally friendly molluscicides
Major players in the manufacturing sector have started making environmentally friendly molluscicide products using sustainable and non-harmful by-products. No successful biological controls are in place to combat invasive mollusks. The use of synthetic molluscicides harms non-target organisms; it affects the establishment of crops and triggers algal blooms and pesticide residue problems. Polyherbal molluscicide developed by Platcom Ventures Sdn Bhd in Malaysia is a biological control method, with low toxicity against non-target organisms in contrast to synthetic molluscicides that have a toxic effect on non-target organisms. Also, polyherbal are biodegradable due to which the demand for molluscicides will increase in the forecast period.
Challenges –Molluscicides Market
- Effects of chemical molluscicides can hamper the growth of the market
Molluscicides have often been applied regionally in the past. Requirements are typically limited to places the local population often uses to swim, shower, and bath. Chemical molluscicides such as niclosamide are currently suitable for operational use in snail control programs. Certain molluscicides are being tested including those of plant origin. Niclosamide is used only sparingly in a few local control programs, owing to its high cost. At low concentrations, they are extremely toxic for snails and their egg masses. Also, Molluscides are costly and have adverse effects on non-target organisms, particularly fish. Hence all these factors will hamper the growth of the market in the forecast period.
Market Landscape
Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in Molluscicides Market.In2019, the market ofMolluscicides Market has been consolidated by the top five players accounting for xx% of the share. Major players in the Molluscicides Market are Lonza Group AG, BASF SE, Marrone Bio Innovations, Bayer Cropscience AG, Adama Agricultural Solutions, PI Industries, Syngenta, Marrone Bio Innovations, Doff Portland Ltd., De Sangosse SAS among others.
Acquisitions/Technology Launches
- In March 2018, In March 2018, Marrone Bio Innovations entered into a distribution agreement with Solenis (US) to supply molluscicide in North America, branded "Zequanox”.
- In June 2018, Bayer Crop Science acquired Monsanto (US), through this acquisition to enhance its business vertical as well as consumer base globally.
- In January 2018, Hubei Sanonda Co., Ltd. (China) was acquired by Adama Agricultural Solutions to increase its presence on the Asian market.
- In September 2018, Lonza Group to increase its production potential built a new manufacturing facility of specialty ingredients in Greenwood, SC, US.
