FCI Trade Summit in South Africa Helps Solidify Food Supply, Value Chain
29 May 2013 The strength of the crop input industry and the stability of a region’s food supply go hand in hand. For a developing country like South Africa, the connection between the two is apparent.
This relationship was at the forefront of the Farm Chemicals International Trade summit in Durban, South Africa, where crop input buyers and sellers united to fortify the value chain. More than 200 delegates from upwards of 20 countries gathered at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel from May 6-8 to build relationships, carve out business deals and learn the facts straight from the source about the market that is set to double by 2020.
CropLife South Africa’s President, Kobus Steenekamp, delivered the statistics for sales and usage trends in South Africa. Stating that the pesticide industry in the nation was valued at $400 million in 2011, he alluded to the massive potential for growth in the region. The major contributors to the bottom line of the industry were also listed. Herbicides, the most profitable crop input, are led in value by glyphosate, metolachlor 960 and a metolachlor and triazine mix. Fungicides at the top of the market included mancozeb, epoxiconazole and azocystrobin. The major players in the insecticide market are fenamiphos, oxamyl 310 and clorpyrifos.
The most valuable crops in the nation are also of great importance to any company hoping to tailor their portfolio. Steenekamp gave the 2011 statistics of value by crop and category, listing summer grains as the most profitable for the crop input industry, followed by deciduous fruit and vegetables.
Steenekamp also warned of the challenges the industry is facing in South Africa. Citing a weakened currency (ZAR 9:1 USD) and potential growing pains caused by the European neonicotinoid ban and regional glyphosate resistance concerns, attendees were given the full run down of what to expect when breaking into the market.
Between sessions, the exhibition floor packed with industry professionals from around the world. Rjesh Agarwal, executive director of KRISHI RASAYAN EXPORTS said, “The clarity about the actual size of the South African market was important as there have been a lot of rumors. In addition, the information on the herbicide market was good.”
The next opportunity to attend a Farm Chemicals International Trade Summit will be August 5-7 in Miami, Florida. The Americas Summit, which has attracted more than 600 delegates in the past from some of the most lucrative markets in the world such as Brazil and Mexico will be another key opportunity to identify new markets, and exchange ideas and best business practices with industry leaders from all corners of the globe.
Learn more about the upcoming FCI Trade Summit here.
About the FCI Trade Summit:
The FCI Trade Summit organizes business meetings for crop input producers and distributors. Farm Chemicals International believes that the proliferation of crop production technologies is instrumental to national prosperity and regional food security. The Trade Summit thrives on its ability to introduce a diverse group of crop input manufacturers to in-country distributors, thereby providing access to efficient, effective and affordable production technologies for the farmers and the communities they serve.
About Farm Chemicals International:
Farm Chemicals International creates real and virtual communities around crop input manufacturers, distributors, trading companies and registration consultants through its coverage and analysis of crop production news and trends, as well as coverage of trade policies, agronomic practices, crop reports, regulatory issues, company profiles and personality profiles of the world’s most influential agriculture entrepreneurs and advocates for modern agriculture.
Get The Newsletter Today!
