Insecticides Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2033

Insecticides Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2033

The global insecticides market size was valued at USD 20.46 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach around USD 34.74 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.43% from 2024 to 2033. The insecticides market is driven by expanding treatments to protect agricultural areas from insect and pest invasions.

Insecticides Market Key Takeaways

• Asia-Pacific dominated the insecticides market in 2023.
• North America shows a significant growth in the market during the forecast period.
• By origin, the synthetic segment dominated the market in 2023.
• By origin, the organic segment is observed to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period.
• By type, the systematic insecticide segment dominated the insecticides market in 2023.
• By type, the contact insecticide segment is observed to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period.
• By product, the carbamates segment dominated the market in 2023.
• By product, the organochlorine segment is observed to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period.
• By insect pest type, the sucking pest insecticide segment dominated the market in 2023.
• By insect pest type, the biting and chewing pest insecticide segment significantly growing market during the forecast period.
• By application, the grains and cereals segment dominated the insecticides market in 2023.
• By application, the fruit and vegetables segment show a notable growth in the market during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific Insecticides Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2033

The Asia Pacific insecticides market size was estimated at USD 7.03 billion in 2023 and is predicted to be worth around USD 11.95 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 5.44% from 2024 to 2033.

Asia-Pacific had the largest market share in 2023 in the insecticides market. Asia accounts for more than half of the world's pesticide usage. After China and Turkey, India is ranked third in Asia and 12th in the world for the usage of pesticides. Nearly 70% of Indians depend on agriculture for their work and means of subsistence, making it the most critical sector of the country's economy. The use of pesticides is essential to contemporary agriculture. In agriculture, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides are frequently employed for pest management. Nonetheless, most pesticides used in India are insecticides.

North America shows a significant growth in the insecticides market during the forecast period. Since insecticides offer significant advantages like greater crop yields due to defoliation disease protection, less spoilage of stored foods, and more, insecticides like carbamates, organophosphate, nicotinoids, aldicarb, neonics, and others are commonly utilized in several applications. Pesticides are used when applying soil amendments to crops, including wheat, soybeans, rice, and others. Insecticide use is essential since it safeguards the crop against pests. The rise of the agriculture industry is fueled by factors including the rising demand for food crops, the expansion of policies to ensure food security, and the increased output of cash crops in the North American continent.

As a result, North American agriculture is producing more food, increasing the demand for pesticides, and driving the expansion of the North American insecticide industry. The output of agriculture has increased recently. However, rather than enlarging the planted area, a higher yield per unit area has been the main force behind this expansion. By 2030, there should be an increase in annual agricultural productivity yield on the same agricultural land.

North America Insecticides Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2033

The North America insecticides market size was calculated at USD 5.89 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand around USD 10.02 billion by 2033, poised to grow at a CAGR of 5.45% from 2024 to 2033.

Insecticides Market Overview

Pesticides are essential chemicals for controlling invasive and destructive pests in agriculture, the landscape, and forestry. All substances used to stop, eliminate, deter, attract, or lessen pest organisms are considered pesticides. Some well-known pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides. Crop protection products are widely used in modern agriculture to increase crop yield by shielding plants from damaging pests and weeds. Agricultural productivity has also increased considerably, providing food security for the increasing population. One of the key reasons for increasing agricultural output in some economies is high pesticide usage.

Plant diseases and pests are more likely to appear and spread owing to climatic changes. Crop productivity is impacted by crop vulnerability to various diseases and pests, which are increased by climate change. As a result, any change in the climate causes farming practices to diverge, which lowers production, and this, in turn, is expected to increase the demand for pesticides. Additionally, sporadic rainfall in different areas contributed to an increase in the fungus population. These factors have increased farmers' dependence on pesticides for effective pest prevention, likely fueling the market's growth.

Insecticides Market Growth Factors

• An expanding global population is pressuring food production. Insecticides can boost crop yields by shielding crops from pests and illnesses.
• Improvements in insecticide formulation can increase their usefulness, safety, and use, which will appeal to farmers more.
• Farmers are using more insecticides due to growing awareness of the value of pest management in enhancing crop yields and revenue.
• Because insects can grow resistant to current insecticides, new and more potent treatments must be developed. This encourages market innovation.

Insecticides Market Scope

Insecticides Market Dynamics

Driver: Increase in the global agricultural output

Agricultural output and productivity have increased drastically over recent years due to the use of modern irrigation systems, high-yielding seed types, and agricultural pesticides such as insecticides. Insecticides are beneficial in terms of both economic and labor advantages, resulting in decreased crop loss. Sustainable productivity and green practices in the agricultural industry have significantly contributed to the increasing global agricultural output.

Moreover, the agricultural industry rapidly expands worldwide to cope with fast-changing and growing food demand. Current agricultural aspects are mainly focused on providing nutritional food. Hence, the overall increase in farm output is thriving in the growth of the global insecticides market.

Moreover, the global agriculture industry has evolved into a diverse landscape, encompassing everything from small-scale peasant farms to large multinational corporations. What's truly inspiring is the collaborative spirit among various market players, private and public organizations, research institutes, NGOs, and universities. Together, they are working towards a common goal of creating a sustainable future with enhanced agricultural productivity.

Restraint: Toxicity associated with insecticides

The toxicity associated with insecticides is one of the major restraints to the growth of the global insecticides market. As insecticides are poisonous, they are hazardous to children and small pets, requiring proper handling and safety practices, restricting insecticides' acceptability for residential use. Several insecticides may cause poisoning when inhaled, swallowed, or even absorbed through the skin. The most dangerous insecticide poisonings are caused by organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. As stated by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, Organophosphates are the most often implicated class of pesticides in symptomatic disorders. Further, insecticide toxicity may lead to blurred vision, vomiting, coughing, frequent bowl, and urination.

In severe cases, it may decrease blood pressure and heart rate, which is dangerous for human health. Furthermore, the rising cases of insecticide toxicity across the globe are creating a significant hurdle for the growth of the global insecticides market.

Opportunity: Rise in the research & development of insecticides

Pests are growing more widespread in a variety of crops across the globe, and insecticide-resistant bugs are becoming more common. Insecticides are useful for controlling a wide variety of pests. However, when pests develop resistance, their potency drops over time, and a significant reduction in sensitivity to a pesticide reduces its efficacy in the field. Insecticide tolerance typically occurs due to growing dependence on insecticide-based pest management. This resistance increases fast as the temperature rises, allowing insects or lice to reproduce more rapidly. Hence, the need for constant research to create new products is creating tremendous growth opportunities in the global insecticide market.

Origin Insights

The synthetic segment dominated the insecticides market in 2023. Synthetic insecticides are chemical compounds designed to kill or control pests such as insects, mites, and worms. These chemicals are widely used in agriculture to protect crops from damage caused by insects. The advantages of synthetic chemicals are expected to augment the segment's global insecticide market growth. Furthermore, the demand for food is increasing globally, particularly in developing countries, leading to increased crop production and the use of synthetic insecticides to protect crops.

The development of new and advanced synthetic insecticides and application methods are likely to contribute to the segment's growth during the forecast period. In some cases, synthetic insecticides are the only viable solution for farmers to protect their crops from certain pests. Also, agricultural expansion in economies like India and China is expected to create demand for synthetic insecticides in the years to come.

The organic segment is observed to be the fastest growing in the insecticides market during the forecast period.  Organic insecticides are substances used to control pests derived from nature or plants. These pesticides replace the poisonous chemical pesticides, which are bad for plants and people's health. The different types of organic pesticides include botanical, microbial, mineral, and others. In contrast to botanical pesticides, which come from plants like azadirachta indica (neem), sabadilla, and rotenone, microbiological pesticides are made from microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, viruses, or protozoans. These insecticides are considered safer for human and animal health and the environment. The demand for organic insecticides is increasing as consumers and farmers become more aware of the potential health and environmental risks associated with chemical insecticides.

The growing demand for organic food products, which requires farmers to use organic-approved insecticides, along with evolving agriculture farming, is also likely to support the growth of the segment in the global insecticides market. Globally, organic agricultural techniques have quickly advanced during the past two decades.  Chemical insecticides and fertilizers harm the ecosystem. Therefore, governments worldwide support organic farming to decrease the use of dangerous chemicals in agriculture. Furthermore, the growing demand for sustainable farming practices is also likely to contribute to the growth of organic insecticides.

Type Insights

The systematic insecticide segment dominated the insecticides market in 2023. These are the pesticides that, via methodical dispersal, end up inside the plant. The pesticide plants are consumed by insects that may subsequently feed on them and be eradicated. Systemic insecticides exhibit long-term or residual action. As a result, the plant or a specific section becomes poisonous to insects. To prevent insects from feeding on plant tissue, it is crucial to use this form of insecticide. Systemic insecticides have many benefits, including improved agricultural yields and higher crop quality. It also helps you reduce the overall labor cost by guaranteeing long-term pest-insect protection and reducing the need for frequent insect-spraying operations.

The contact insecticide segment is observed to be the fastest growing in the insecticides market during the forecast period. Contact insecticides kill insects by aiming only at a specific target, like bullets. Domestic insect spray functions like contact pesticides in most cases since the bug must be directly struck. Captiva is a more natural form of contact insecticide produced from plant extracts. It is a foliar spray effective on all sorts of vegetables and food crops. It assists in removing all types of insects, even their eggs. Another bio-contact pesticide manufactured from soybean oil is Golden Pest Spray OilOG. It fights off insects with soft bodies, including earworms, rootworms, and fall worms.

It can be used for various vegetable crops, including maize, this contact insecticide significantly grows this segment. Controlling rodent and insect populations improves human health by reducing the risk of disease epidemics such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and malaria; this factor also increases the demand for the insecticide market.

Insecticides Market Revenue (USD Billion), by Product 2020 to 2023

Product Insights

The carbamates segment dominated the insecticides market in 2023. Carbamates are insecticides made from carbamic acid. In addition to being efficient at getting rid of insects, they can quickly be detoxified from the tissues of mammals, lowering their toxicity levels in both humans and animals.  Carbamates are used as baits or sprays to kill insects by affecting their nervous systems and brains. They kill aphids, ants, fleas, scales, whiteflies, and mealy bugs on crops. Some carbamates are effective mosquito repellents. Some have been found in groundwater at concerning levels.

Moreover, when appropriately used, carbamate pesticides benefit society, as they protect and increase agricultural production while protecting human and animal health from insect-vector-mediated diseases. Mosquito species are mainly developed within agricultural lands due to access to water in these areas. These mosquitoes transfer vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue to humans.

The organochlorine segment is observed to be the fastest growing in the insecticides market during the forecast period. Organochlorine insecticides have been successfully used to control malaria and typhus, but their use is prohibited in a few countries due to their adverse health effects. Over time, organochlorine pesticides can harm the central nervous system, kidneys, liver, bladder, and thyroid. Some evidence also suggests that organochlorine pesticides may cause cancer in humans.

Moreover, a review of pesticide use statistics reveals that most pesticides used in a few economies belong to the organochlorine class of chemicals. Organochlorine insecticides such as DDT, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), aldrin, and dieldrin are among the most widely used pesticides in developing Asian countries due to their low cost and need against various pests. Despite environmental regulations, the high global demand for OCPs in agricultural practice is primarily due to their excellent pest control efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Also, they are usually applied as sprays or dusts, making them easy for farmers and householders to use.

Insect Pest Type Insights

The sucking pest insecticide segment dominated the insecticides market in 2023. Pests that feed via sucking include aphids, thrips, leafhoppers, whiteflies, and mites. They are all alike in that they have evolved jaws that enable them to puncture and suck their prey plants. Because it is sucking sap from the host, the nutrient-poor host plant becomes stunted, twisted, and discolored, as well as weaker and experiences early leaf loss. Some pests transfer disease-causing organisms and inject toxic compounds into the crop while they feed. Any nutrient-rich substance that humans consume for survival and growth is considered food. As the world's population grows, so does the need for high-yielding crops and crop management.

The biting and chewing pest insecticide segment is significantly growing in the insecticides market during the forecast period. Pests that chew and bite consume plant parts such as stems, leaves, flowers, buds, and roots. These insects can cause a variety of damage, including withering of the plant, holes in the leaves or stems, semicircular holes along the edges of the leaves, discoloration on the surface or the edges of the foliage and flower petals, and discolored foliage. Borers, which eat internally as larvae, commonly devour stems. Long horned beetles, also known as round-headed borers, metallic wood boring beetles, flat-headed borers, engraver beetles, clearwing moths, the American plum borer, and a few other less frequent moths are significant borers.

Root weevils and root maggots depend exclusively on plant tissue for growth. Other root-chewing insects eat roots and soil organic waste (most white grubs). Stem borers affect several cereal crops, including rice, sorghum, sugarcane, maize, and pearl millet, affecting farmers' growth. Due to this reason, the insecticide market is booming globally.

Insecticides Market Revenue (USD Billion), by Application 2020 to 2023

Application Insights

The grains and cereals segment dominated the insecticides market in 2023. Insecticides can be used in agriculture to manage pests that infest crops and eradicate insects that transfer illness. Before widespread use of insecticides, many crops harvested were consumed by insects, resulting in frequent losses. Although certain biological controls exist in the environment, such as naturally occurring predators or parasites that target crop-feeding insects, these elements are largely uncontrollable. Insecticides' ability to protect crops has been beneficial to agriculture, particularly in raising output.

For many years, the proper and long-term storage of cereals, mainly free of insects, mites, fungi, and their mycotoxins and rodents, has been based on applying several synthetic pesticides. However, because of the documented harm that synthetic pesticides like methyl bromide and dichloro-diphenyl-trihloroethane (DDT) cause to the environment and human health, as well as the emergence of resistance to pesticides like malathion, scientists have been searching for more effective control methods.

The fruit and vegetables segment shows a notable growth in the insecticides market during the forecast period. After China, India is the world's second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables. Because of the country's varied topography and temperature, fruits and vegetables are available throughout the year. The fruit and vegetables sector are essential for a balanced and healthy diet and comprises the fundamentals for human consumption. Tomatoes are the most widely grown vegetable, accounting for over 1 billion metric tons annually.

Growing vegan demographic base is another significant element driving the demand for fruits and vegetables and supporting the expansion of the agriculture industry. These causes have raised the need for crop protection in the agricultural sector, boosting insecticide market expansion.

Insecticides Market Recent Developments

• In November 2023, amidst the ongoing sowing of Rabi crops, Insecticides (India) Limited, a prominent agrochemical firm, declared the launch of four new products: Nakshatra, Opaque, Supremo SP, and Million.
• In November 2023, to safeguard chili crops throughout the flowering stage, Godrej Agrovet (GAVL) introduced Rashinban, a pest control solution containing patent-pending chemistry discovered and developed by Japan's Nissan Chemical Corporation.
• In August 2023, over the next two years, Insecticides India intends to invest Rs 150 crore in an expansion project. Using the invested capital, the company's expansion plan is focused on increasing its operational capacity throughout Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Insecticides Market Companies

• Syngenta International AG
• Bayer CropScience AG
• BASF SE
• FMC
• Corteva Agriscience
• Nufarm Limited

Segments Covered in the Report

By Origin

• Organic
• Synthetic

By Type

• Systematic Insecticide
• Ingested Insecticide
• Contact Insecticide

By Product

• Organochlorine
• Organophosphate
• Organosulfur
• Carbamates
• Formamidines
• Dinitrophenols
• Pyrethroids
• Neonicotinoids
• Others

By Insect Pest Type

• Sucking Pest Insecticide
• Biting And Chewing Pest Insecticide

By Application

• Grains And Cereals
• Pulses And Oilseeds
• Commercial Crops
• Fruit and Vegetables

By Geography

• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa