Recently, the Working Conference of the Chlorantraniliprole Industrial Chain Research Group of the China Pesticide Industry Association was held in Beijing. More than 20 upstream and downstream enterprises of the industrial chain gathered to discuss the future development of this important pesticide variety. As a commonly used insecticide for farmers, market changes of chlorantraniliprole will be directly related to the prevention and control of pests and diseases in the fields. What important information did this conference convey? And what does it mean for agricultural production? Let's find out together.

Chlorantraniliprole:  The Field Guardian Faces Challenges

Chlorantraniliprole is a highly efficient and low-toxic insecticide belonging to the class of o-carboxamido benzamides. It works by activating the ryanodine receptors in pests, leading to muscle paralysis and death. Due to its excellent control effect against Lepidopteran pests (such as rice leaf roller, Chilo suppressalis, diamondback moth, etc.) and low toxicity to mammals, it has rapidly become one of the preferred drugs for farmers to control pests since its launch.

The Global Market Size and Price Trend of Chlorantraniliprole

Since the global launch of the first chlorantraniliprole product in 2008, it has gained widespread market popularity due to its advantages of broad insecticidal spectrum, applicability to multiple crops, excellent control efficacy, long residual period, low toxicity, and high safety. It is now sold in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Since 2013, chlorantraniliprole has maintained global sales of over $1 billion for more than a decade. Data shows that its sales have grown year by year in recent years, rising from $1.365 billion in 2016 to $1.93 billion (approximately 13 billion RMB) in 2022, firmly ranking first in the global insecticide market.    

In 2024,the price of chlorantraniliprole technical material dropped from 310,000 RMB/ton at the beginning of the year to 200,000 RMB/ton by the end of the year, currently remaining just above 200,000 RMB/ton. The main reason for this price collapse is the surge of enterprises entering the market after the patent expiration, rapid expansion of production capacity, and a sharp increase in product registrations, leading to intensified market competition.

Domestic Production Capacity and Export Situation of Chlorantraniliprole

As of February 2025, incomplete statistics from public information sources such as government EIA websites and investment/construction enterprise announcements show that the declared production capacity of chlorantraniliprole technical material in China has exceeded 130,000 tons, with industry statistics even reaching 200,000 tons. This has led to a severe surplus relative to demand, though many projects remain in the approval or construction phase, and only a few companies have actual production. Among them, Youdao Chemistry—the main entity in this accident—has a declared annual production capacity of 11,000 tons for chlorantraniliprole technical material, with a real capacity of approximately 5,000 tons. It has become the world's largest built production enterprise for chlorantraniliprole technical material with the most complete industrial chain. Therefore, this accident has a significant impact on the actual supply both domestically and globally.    

Due to increased production capacity and cost advantages, China's export volume has surged since 2022, and it has now become the largest exporter of chlorantraniliprole technical material, accounting for 58% of the global total export volume of technical material in 2024.

Industrial Chain Collaboration:  The Key to Breaking the Dilemma

Facing these challenges, Duan Yousheng, Assistant Secretary-General of the China Pesticide Industry Association, pointed out: "Healthy collaborative development between upstream and downstream of the industrial chain is crucial and serves as the foundation for the industry's sound growth." This means that from raw material suppliers to manufacturers and sales terminals, an organic whole needs to be formed to jointly address market changes.  The conference paid special attention to two key intermediates:  

-K acid:A vital raw material for chlorantraniliprole synthesis  

-K amine:A key component determining the final product quality    

Currently, the production and supply issues of these intermediates have become bottlenecks restricting industry development.To this end, upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain are seeking collaborative cooperation to ensure stable supply.

Looking Ahead:  The Path to High-Quality Development

In 2025, the Chlorantraniliprole Industrial Chain Research Group will deepen its work around the above four aspects. The implementation of these measures will help stabilize market supply, ensure farmers' pesticide needs, and extend the service life of this important pesticide variety.   Pesticides are important production materials in modern agriculture, and their stable supply and rational use are directly related to food security and agricultural product quality. The convening of this industrial chain conference demonstrates the industry's positive attitude toward challenges and determination to solve problems. It is believed that with the joint efforts of all parties, chlorantraniliprole will continue to play an important role in the prevention and control of agricultural pests and diseases.  

Farmers who encounter any problems in the process of using pesticides can consult local agricultural technology promotion departments to obtain professional guidance and assistance. Only by using pesticides scientifically can a bumper harvest be ensured!