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Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Martha Garcia Guerrero Martha Garcia Guerrero London, United Kingdom Last Updated: October 2024 SIC C20.200

Revenue

£1.1bn

2024-25

£1.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

3,471

Businesses

85

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry analysis

Chemical pesticides are an integral part of Britain's agriculture sector and play a big role in boosting output and productivity. Agrochemical manufacturers' product portfolios are constantly evolving in line with technological advances and trends in the use of pesticides. Industry revenue is expected to slump at a compound annual rate of 2.1% to £1.1 billion over the five years through 2024-25. This includes a 3.5% spike in 2024-25, owing to volatile prices and growing pest threats in some crops, despite poor weather conditions dampening total demand from the agricultural sector. Most pesticides’ active ingredients are petroleum derivates, so volatile oil prices since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022-23 have resulted in volatile pesticide prices and erratic changes in industry revenue as manufacturers try to pass on the costs increases.

Trends and Insights

  • Active ingredients fall out of favour. A few have been withdrawn from approval lists, pushing agrochemical manufacturers to pull products from the market or reformulate them, boosting R&D spending.
  • Herbicides and fungicides dominate the industry. However, this is slowly changing as key active ingredients are banned, slashing herbicide and fungicide sales.
  • The UK’s agricultural hub draws in agrochemical manufacturers. Lots of the UK’s intensive arable farming occurs in the East of England, giving manufacturers in the area plenty of potential customers.
  • Clients want to keep costs to a minimum. Because of this, price competition is key. Manufacturers selling their agrochemicals at lower prices will therefore find it easier to draw in sales.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Lower arable crop production slashes pesticide sales

  • In recent years, one of the main setbacks for agrochemical manufacturers has been the drop in cereal production across the UK, which has constricted demand for pesticides.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Continued divergence in EU-UK regulation will increase regulatory complexity

  • Changes in UK legislation following Brexit have started to take form, with significant changes.

Biggest companies in the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Croda Europe Ltd
165.8
Nufarm UK Ltd
143.1
Syngenta UK Ltd
89.2

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Herbicides, Fungicides and Disinfectants. Herbicides is the largest segment of the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Regenerative farming props up demand for herbicides

  • Herbicides prevent or reduce weed growth, cutting the need for manual or mechanical weeding. Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides; farmers use it as an alternative to ploughing, which disturbs the soil and releases carbon.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry manufacture insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, acaricides, molluscicides, biocides, chemical plant growth regulators, disinfectants and other agrochemical products. Predominantly used in the agricultural and horticultural industries, these products play an important role in maintaining the quality, consistency and affordability of food and plants grown in the UK.

What's included in this industry?

HerbicidesFungicidesDisinfectantsRodenticidesInsecticidesPlant growth regulators

Companies

Croda Europe LtdNufarm UK LtdSyngenta UK Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

ACARICIDEFUNGICIDEHERBICIDEINSECTICIDEFORMULATIONSOFT PESTICIDE

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 20.20 - Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Active ingredients fall out of favour. A few have been withdrawn from approval lists, pushing agrochemical manufacturers to pull products from the market or reformulate them,...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Herbicides and fungicides dominate the industry. However, this is slowly changing as key active ingredients are banned, slashing herbicide and fungicide sales.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The UK’s agricultural hub draws in agrochemical manufacturers. Lots of the UK’s intensive arable farming occurs in the East of England, giving manufacturers in the area plent...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Clients want to keep costs to a minimum. Because of this, price competition is key. Manufacturers selling their agrochemicals at lower prices will therefore find it easier to...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Nufarm UK Ltd (the industry’s biggest player) R&D investment supports sales. Its diverse and innovative product range means it captures a lot of the market, helping to keep s...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Croda Europe Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Nufarm UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Syngenta UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Croda Europe Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Nufarm UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Syngenta UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Brexit’s impact on regulation is only starting to show. Although key rules, like REACH and CLP, have been brought into UK law, some rules have begun to diverge, making compli...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

R&D efforts eat into profitability. Regulation banning the use of some chemicals has pushed up R&D efforts, with manufacturers needing to create new products. Attempts to mak...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 85 businesses in the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing market in United Kingdom are Croda Europe Ltd, Nufarm UK Ltd and Syngenta UK Ltd

What does the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Herbicides and Fungicides are part of the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Croda Europe Ltd.

How competitive is the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Pesticide & Other Agrochemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • There are no industries to display.

International industries

  • Global Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals Manufacturing
  • Pesticide Manufacturing in the US
  • Pesticide Manufacturing in Canada
  • Pesticide Manufacturing in Australia
  • Chemical Pesticide Manufacturing in China

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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