CropChem: Brazil to Continue Dependence on Pesticide Imports
30 August 2017 José Leão, founding partner of CropChem Ltda in Porto Alegre, Brazil, has vast experience in the sector of agricultural pesticides, with more than 30 years of work in the field. Recently, Leão shared his insight into the crop protection market — both globally and in Brazil — with GlobalAgroChemicals.com.
Brazil has imported about of 220.7 million dollars in pesticides in May this year, showing the great dependency that the country has in the international market. Do you believe that this wide defensive import scenario can change in the country and what measures could be taken?
José Leão: We understand that this scenario should remain, or even be expanded, considering that in Brazil there are many years that don’t have an industrial policy of medium/long term. In the case of pesticides, the situation is even more serious, because it depends on a wide range of raw materials, which should be produced locally to enable the national production. Today, we see China and India emerging as major suppliers worldwide, with vertical industries, adequate infrastructure and low level of bureaucracy, which makes them extremely competitive.
The crops of soybean and corn this year registered record production and their prices are increasing the potential that will strengthen the rural producer. Is this scenario reflecting on the market of pesticides?
JL: The grain harvest this year was excellent. Prices, however, are still at a low level. This factor that caught sales, and as a result there is a delay in the marketing of inputs. With the expectation of improvement in grain prices, it is expected that the acquisition of inputs have a positive development in the second half.
Read the full story on GlobalAgroChemicals.com.
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