Markets for crop protection products are poised for steady growth through the end of the decade as farmers around the world contend with rising food demand, increasingly aggressive pest pressures and shrinking opportunities to expand farmland, according to a new industry forecast.
Research firm MarketsandMarkets projects the global crop protection chemicals market will grow from $83.3 billion in 2025 to $106.3 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 5 percent. The report points to mounting pressure on agricultural producers to increase yields while facing threats from weeds, insects and crop diseases that can significantly reduce harvests.
The forecast underscores the central role that herbicides, insecticides and fungicides continue to play in modern agriculture, even as biological alternatives gain market share and regulators around the world scrutinize older chemical products.
“Rising global food demand, and limited arable land availability has prompted farmers to seek productivity enhancement in established farmland,” the report said. Researchers also cited climate variability and shifting weather patterns that are expanding the range and intensity of pests, pathogens and invasive weeds in many growing regions.
The Asia-Pacific region accounted for the largest share of the global market in 2024, with 26 percent of total sales, reflecting the region’s extensive agricultural production and growing food consumption. But MarketsandMarkets expects North America to be the fastest-growing region through 2030, driven by increased adoption of precision agriculture technologies, demand for new crop protection tools and growing use of biopesticides.
Herbicides remain the largest segment of the market because of their widespread use in major crops including grains, oilseeds and pulses. Weeds continue to be one of the most persistent threats to crop productivity, competing with crops for water, nutrients and sunlight. The report noted that herbicide use has been reinforced by the expansion of large-scale farming operations and conservation tillage systems that rely heavily on chemical weed control.
While herbicides dominate overall sales, insecticides are expected to post the fastest growth among conventional crop protection products, with an annual growth rate of 5.1 percent through 2030. Researchers attributed that trend to increasing pest pressures and the need for growers to protect yields from insect damage.
At the same time, biological crop protection products are projected to expand far more rapidly than conventional chemicals. The report estimates the biopesticides segment will grow at an annual rate of 14.6 percent between 2025 and 2030 as governments, food companies and consumers push for more sustainable farming practices.
That shift reflects a broader transformation underway across the crop protection industry. Regulatory reviews in major markets have led to the withdrawal of some older active ingredients, while resistance among weeds, insects and pathogens has increased demand for new chemistries and alternative modes of action.
The report identified resistance management as one of the industry’s most significant challenges. As pests evolve resistance to existing products, manufacturers face growing pressure to develop new technologies — a process that often requires years of research and substantial investment.
MarketsandMarkets also highlighted precision agriculture as a major opportunity for the sector. The integration of crop protection products with digital technologies, data analytics and targeted application systems is expected to help farmers improve efficiency while reducing environmental impacts.
The industry remains dominated by a handful of multinational companies with extensive research and development capabilities. The report identified U.S.-based Corteva, Germany-based BASF and Bayer, Switzerland-based Syngenta, and India’s UPL among the leading global players.
Recent industry developments reflect the growing focus on both conventional and biological crop protection technologies. In recent years, companies have introduced new fungicides and herbicides while also expanding investments in biological products through acquisitions and product launches aimed at addressing sustainability concerns and resistance issues.
Despite growing interest in biological alternatives, the report concludes that synthetic herbicides, fungicides and insecticides will remain the primary tools used by growers worldwide over the next decade because of their effectiveness, broad-spectrum activity and ability to protect crop yields at scale.
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