In Nov. 2012, Shandong Luba Chemical Co., Ltd. (Shandong Luba) successfully concluded the temporary registration of paraquat 50% soluble granules formulation (SG) through the Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture (ICAMA) with a valid period of one year. At present, the paraquat formulation mainly has two types—SG and AS (aqueous solution). And only Shandong Luba has undertaken paraquat SG registration, according to CCM’s December Issue of Herbicides China News.
Although securing paraquat SG registration, the paraquat SG production line in Shandong Luba is still in the planning stage and relevant manufacturing equipment has not been procured, as disclosed by a sales manager in the company. However, the paraquat SG registration intimates that Shandong Luba will put effort into the new category of paraquat formulation development, which will be beneficial to the promotion of this excellent paraquat in the domestic market.
Paraquat has an advantage of being highly efficient and there is no substitute herbicide for paraquat, although paraquat has high toxicity. Compared with paraquat AS, paraquat SG has more advantages including higher content, easier storage, better stability, lower probability of accidental poisoning, and is more environmentally safe. Besides paraquat SG, paraquat granule (GR) is also a potential formulation.
Currently, the Chinese government has imposed some restrictions on paraquat products. On April 24th, 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture of China released an official announcement saying that all paraquat SL should be withdrawn from the whole Chinese market after July 1st, 2016.
After July 1st, 2014, all current registrations and production permits regarding paraquat SL and mixed paraquat SL will be cancelled in China, except that in paraquat TK manufacturers for paraquat exporting to overseas markets. And all products of paraquat SL are forbidden to be sold and used in China after July 1st, 2016 (Herbicides China News 1205: China takes restriction on paraquat).
As of Nov. 2012, there were 280 paraquat AS registrations and 32 paraquat TK registrations by a total of 262 companies, according to ICAMA. This means that 280 paraquat AS registrations will be cancelled after 20 months. Most small paraquat manufacturers which only aim at domestic markets will be eliminated, leaving a large market gap in China after July 1st, 2014. If the proper substitutes appear in time, this will be a great opportunity for pesticide companies' development.
Although the Chinese government places restrictions on paraquat products, in Nov. 2012, the paraquat market was still hot. Paraquat prices rose slightly during July and Oct. in 2012 after a continuous slip during Nov. 2011 and May 2012. And it seems that the price will keep ascending after the third quarter of 2012. According to CCM's price monitoring, during July and Oct. 2012, the average ex-factory price of paraquat 42% TK floated from USD2,132/t to USD2,290/t. And the uptrend will probably be maintained continuously in the next few months so that the ex-factory price of paraquat 42% TK may reach USD2,500/t due to the coming peak season for herbicides. This reflects that paraquat in the Chinese market is in great demand. Once paraquat AS is withdrawn, there will be a big gap in the market.
At present, Shandong Luba possesses 10,000t/a 42% paraquat TK capacity and 10,000t/a paraquat AS capacity. As a leading paraquat manufacturer in China, Shandong Luba has developed paraquat for over ten years. In fact, Shandong Luba was the first domestic manufacturer to use sodium cyanide and liquid ammonia as the reactive material for paraquat synthesis. This synthesis method has advantages of high efficiency and complete wastewater treatment, though it requires large amount of investment and energy. In addition, Shandong Luba has the raw material advantage—the company possesses a capacity of 12,000t/a in producing 99% pyridine, which is the key intermediate in paraquat synthesis. Whether Shandong Luba will be the first domestic manufacturer to launch paraquat SG, keep focus on CCM.
Shandong Luba, founded in 1997, is an appointed pesticide producer engaging in the R&D, production and marketing of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Besides major paraquat products, the other herbicide products in the company include haloxyfop-R-methyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, fluroxypyr, diquat and cyhalofop-butyl.
Source: Herbicides China News 1212
http://www.cnchemicals.com/Newsletter/NewsletterDetail_11.html
Content of Herbicides China News 1212:
Lier Chemical to enhance chloropyridine herbicide capacity
CAC Nantong pursues 2,4-D
Huapont Nutrichem postpones its new pesticide projects
Jiangsu Huifeng enhances its pesticide capacity
Weifang Rainbow's herbicides registered in Australia
Acetochlor price rose slightly during Oct. and Nov. 2012
Shandong Luba registers paraquat SG
Clethodim undergoes price slip
Chinese imazapyr export analysis during Jan. and Aug. 2012
Sluggish haloxyfop-R-methyl market continues in China
Export volume rise stimulates mesotrione price rises
Metribuzin sales tide maintained
Shandong Binnong can supply S-metolachlor
New registrations of herbicide technical in China in Nov. 2012
Metribuzin sales tide maintained
Shandong Binnong can supply S-metolachlor
New registrations of herbicide technical in China in Nov. 2012
Herbicides China News, a monthly publication issued by CCM on 15th of every month, provides you with the latest occurrences, exclusive analysis on the market trend as well as professional reviews on competitiveness of companies, products and relative industries in China’s herbicide industry.
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