Sumitomo Constructs Flumioxazin Production Line
17 June 2011 Sumitomo Chemical will construct a new production line at a facility for its herbicide flumioxazin (branded Sumisoya in Japan) at its Oita Works (Tsurusaki, Oita City, Oita Prefecture) to meet the increasing demand for this product, according to a press release.
The new production line will commence operation some time between July and September 2012. The expanded production is expected to boost sales of flumioxazin and derivative products by several tens of billions of yen per year, according to the company.
Sumitomo Chemical has been developing the US market for flumioxazin and expanding sales through its subsidiary Valent U.S.A. Demand for flumioxazin is growing considerably because of an increasing area of land under cultivation with soybeans.
Flumioxazin is an herbicide used in the cultivation mainly of soy beans, cotton, and sugar cane. It demonstrates long-lasting efficacy in suppressing the growth of weeds after spraying as well as efficacy in promoting early-stage growth of crops. Flumioxazin is also effective against weeds resistant to glyphosate, an herbicide widely used around the world.
The company entered into a long-term crop protection (weed management) collaboration agreement with US agrochemical major Monsanto in October last year, and the incorporation of flumioxazin into Monsanto’s Roundup (active ingredient: glyphosate) weed management platform is anticipated to significantly increase sales of flumioxazin, according to Sumitomo.
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