发展中经济体的商品作物需求正在快速增长，推动全球作物保护市场稳步改善，过去几年每年增长约 7%。
BRIC countries specifically have experienced a demand that far outpaces domestic output, which has forced them to rely on more imports. Imports for wheat and corn into BRIC countries has risen from about 190 million tonnes in 2005 to more than 230 million tonnes in 2011, according to Phillips McDougall’s February AgriFutura report.
This demand from BRIC countries and other developing economies – along with favorable crop prices – has fueled sustained growth in the value of the global crop protection industry. Even net importers have bolstered their output, although demand is growing faster than productivity gain in many markets.
金砖国家中，巴西和印度的耕地产品贸易顺差，俄罗斯和中国的耕地产品贸易逆差。个别商品作物各不相同。例如，巴西出口的玉米、大米和大豆多于进口，但对小麦存在贸易逆差。俄罗斯进口的大米和大豆多于出口，但这种贸易失衡在一定程度上被其主要的小麦和玉米出口所抵消。中国进口的玉米、大米、大豆和小麦多于出口，尽管大米出口额超过进口额。
Of the top 10 corn and wheat importing nations, the largest import-rate increases have occurred in Indonesia, Egypt and Algeria since 2007. China has recorded the largest import growth; the world’s No. 18 importer has more than doubled its corn and wheat imports since 2007, helping to further elevate demand and keep prices strong.