Article: Imports of Agricultural Pesticides – 2010

11.03.2011 | 20:59 (UTC -3)

The agricultural pesticides sector closed 2010 with a volume of imports practically equal to 2009, according to information provided by Ivan Amâncio Sampaio, statistics manager at SINDAG – National Union of the Agricultural Defense Products Industry.

In 2010, 231.967 tons of technical products and formulated products were imported, compared to 231.919 tons imported in 2009.

All classes of pesticides showed an increase in the volume of imports, with the exception of the herbicides class, where there was a drop of around 9% mainly due to the imported volume of the active ingredient glyphosate.

Despite this drop, glyphosate was the product with the highest import volume in 2010, corresponding to 28,6% of the general total of imports.

In the other classes, there was an increase mainly in the fungicide class, followed by insecticides and acaricides.

The class that demanded the largest volume of imports was herbicides, with a percentage share of 58,3%, where we can highlight products based on Glyphosate, Atrazine, 2,4-D, Paraquat, MSMA, Metolachlor, Clomazone, Picloram + 2,4-D and Ametrine.

In fungicides, the largest imported active ingredients were those based on Carbendazim, Azoxystrobin + Ciproconazole, Chlorothalonil, Copper Hydroxide and Methyl Thiophanate.

In insecticides, the biggest imports were products based on Methamidophos, Methomyl, Chlorpyrifos, Carbosulfan and Imidacloprid.

Sampaio highlights that China remains at the forefront as the country that exports the most to Brazil, with a share of 20%, followed by the United States and Argentina, with a share of 19%, as shown in the table below, where the 10 largest supplier countries are listed. of pesticides to Brazil, comparing imports over the last 10 years – 2001 x 2010.

Currently, Brazil is highly dependent on imports, as of the total volume of agricultural pesticides sold, 80% originate from imports and only 20% are locally synthesized.

EXCHANGE RELATIONS – FARMER PURCHASING POWER

As the real is highly valued in relation to the dollar, the prices of agricultural pesticides continue to fall, also due to the great competition and supply of products on the market, which is favoring the Brazilian farmer in the exchange relationship, according to work prepared by the Institute of Agricultural Economics – IEA, from the São Paulo State Department of Agriculture.

When comparing the prices of the main agricultural pesticides sold in the State of São Paulo in January 2011 with those in the same month of 2010 (prices collected in 34 regions), it is observed that out of a total of 128 products researched, in current values, 108 products (84,4%) registered a decrease in prices between 0,2% and 32,9%, and 19 had an increase between 0,1% and 29,4% and one remained stable.

In turn, in values corrected by the IGP-DI of Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), it was observed that 126 products varied negatively, between 1,0% and 39,7%, while 2 products showed an increase between a minimum of 4,5. 16,3% and a maximum of XNUMX%.

Therefore, of the main agricultural pesticides sold in the State of São Paulo, almost all (98,4%) showed a drop in prices, in corrected terms, in January 2011, in the regions analyzed, when compared to January 2010.

In the individual analysis by class, in corrected values, of the total of 40 insecticides, 39 products had a decrease in prices and one showed an increase (4,5%). The 27 fungicides considered showed a drop in prices between 1,3% and 29,8%. In the acaricides class, 8 products had a decrease in prices (between 1,0% and 39,7%) and one product had an increase in prices (16,3%). For herbicides, in corrected values, the 48 products surveyed showed a decrease in prices in that period.

During the researched period, it was observed that the monthly exchange rate, which in January 2010 was 1,780, rose to 1,842 in February 2010. It then decreased in March and April, rising again in May 2010, reaching 1,813. From that date on, it showed a decreasing trend, reaching 1,675 in January 2011. Therefore, the average monthly exchange rate (real/dollar), in the period analyzed, decreased 5,9% (it went from 1,780 in January 2010 to 1,675 in January 2011).

Period January 2003 -2011

In the analysis of the behavior of the average of the corrected price indices of 74 agricultural pesticides surveyed in the State of São Paulo, in the period of January 2003-2011, it was verified that the average of the indices shows a decreasing trend, reaching in January 2011 the lowest period level.

In January 2011, the average corrected price index for the pesticides studied showed a drop of 17,3% in relation to the same month of the previous year. However, if we compare it to the beginning of the period (January 2003), prices on average were 55,6% lower.

In the analysis of exchange ratios, it was found that in January 2011 all the crops analyzed (cotton, coffee, sugar cane, beans, oranges for industry, corn and soybeans) presented more favorable exchange ratios when compared to January 2010, that is, a gain in the purchasing power of São Paulo producers to purchase the basket of agricultural pesticides. The increase in prices received by farmers, combined with the decrease in the value of agricultural pesticide baskets, contributed.

It should be noted that the exchange ratios observed for soybean, coffee, sugar cane, orange and cotton crops in January 2011 were the most favorable for farmers when compared to the exchange ratios observed in January of the last ten years (2002-2011).

For soybean cultivation, in January 2010, 4,72 sc.60 kg of the product were needed to purchase a basket of agricultural pesticides, having decreased to 3,69 bags in January 2011, a decrease of 21,7% (1,03 .39,05 bags less). Therefore, there was an improvement in the exchange ratio. It should be noted that the price received was R$60 sc. 2010kg in January 46,14 to R$2011 in January 18,2 (increase of 1%) (Figure 4,17). In the case of coffee, the exchange ratio decreased from 60 sc.2,65kg of product to 60 sc.36,5kg (decrease of XNUMX%).

It should be noted that oranges for industry were the crop that presented the most favorable exchange ratio for farmers.

It was found that in January 2010 60,21 cx40,8kg were needed

to purchase a basket of agricultural pesticides, having decreased to 30,21 cx.40,8kg in January 2011, a decrease of 49,8%. It should be noted that the price received went from R$7,36 cx.40,8kg in January 2010 to R$14,83 in January 2011 (increase of 101,5%).

Also, the corn crop presented a very favorable exchange ratio for farmers in that period, since the exchange ratio decreased by 40,8%, going from 8,85 sc.60kg in January 2010 to 5,24 sc.60kg in January 2011. It was observed that the price received in current values went from R$16,44 sc.60kg in January 2010 to R$24,85 sc.60kg in January 2011, increasing 51,2%.

In the case of beans, there was also an improvement in the purchasing power of producers. It was found that in January 2010, 7,13 sc.60kg were needed to purchase a basket of pesticides, having decreased to 4,81 in January 2011, a decrease of 32,6%.

For sugarcane cultivation, in January 2010, 17,78 tons of sugarcane were needed to acquire a basket of agricultural pesticides, having decreased to 13,92 tons in January 2011, a decrease of 21,7%, therefore, improving the purchasing power of farmers.

In the case of cotton, the relationship, estimated based on the price received in October 2010, showed an improvement in the exchange ratio, mainly considering the good prices for this product on the market. The exchange ratio went from 16,79 sc.15 kg of product in January 2010 to 9,82 sc.15 kg in January 2011.

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Ivan Amâncio Sampaio

Information Manager

(11) 5094-5536

conexaosindag@sindag.com.br