Thailand Crop Protection Market Size, Share, Growth and Forecast, 2025-2035

Thailand crop protection after the 2020 paraquat ban

The Thailand crop protection market was valued at USD 440.5 million in 2025 and is projected to increase from USD 468.0 million in 2026 to USD 710.3 million by 2035, registering a CAGR of 4.75% during 2026–2035. Demand comes from rice, maize, cassava, sugarcane, oil palm, rubber and fruit growers who buy herbicides, insecticides and fungicides through licensed dealers and cooperatives. Central and Eastern Thailand held the largest regional share, 36.0% in 2025, because irrigated rice in the Central Plain and durian orchards in Chanthaburi, Rayong and Trat need several spray rounds each season. Southern Thailand is the fastest-growing region at 5.20% a year, as growers replace rubber and oil palm with durian. The June 2020 ban on paraquat and chlorpyrifos forced growers to switch to other weed and insect control products. Since January 2025, stricter controls on durian shipped to China have also tied spray programs more closely to export certification.

Which products and buyers does the estimate cover?

The estimate measures farm-level sales of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and specialist pest-control products such as rodent and snail baits used on crops in Thailand. It covers synthetic and biological products sold through licensed dealers, cooperative stores, contract supply and licensed online sellers to independent growers, cooperatives, contract growers and corporate farms.

The estimate excludes fertilizers, seeds, plant growth stimulants sold as nutrition products, household and public health insecticides and post-harvest fumigants. The value chain runs from active ingredient makers and importers through local formulators and packers to dealers, cooperatives and spray service providers that reach farms.

Herbicides lead while fungicides gain with durian orchards

Why do herbicides keep the largest product share?

Based on product type, the market is categorized into herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and specialist pest-control products. Herbicides led with 43.0% of 2025 value, because weeds compete with rice, cassava, cane, rubber and oil palm all year. After paraquat was banned in June 2020, BASF launched Basta-X glufosinate in June 2022 with new approvals for cassava and rubber, and the product controls over 80 weed species. Fungicides grow fastest at 5.44% a year, as the national durian bearing area is expected to rise 9.93% to 1,391,421 rai in 2026, according to The Star.

Which crops buy the most crop protection products?

Based on crop type, the market is categorized into cereals and grains, roots and industrial sugar crops, fruits and vegetables, and plantation crops. Cereals and Grains led with 38.0% of 2025 value, because the FAO forecast 2025/26 paddy output at 33.5 million tons and maize at about 5 million tons, the largest treated area in the country. Fruits and Vegetables grow fastest at 5.60% a year, as the Office of Agricultural Economics forecast 2025 durian output at 1,682,484 tons, up 30.72%, according to The Nation in April 2025.

How are products applied in Thai fields?

Based on application, the market is categorized into foliar spraying, soil spraying, soil incorporation and in-crop baiting. Foliar Spraying led with 55.0% of 2025 value, because most fungicides and insecticides on rice, durian and vegetables are applied to the canopy. Foliar Spraying is also the fastest application at 5.11% a year, as drones spread across paddies. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand set registration, insurance and permit rules for agricultural drone flights from Aug. 11, 2025, and more than 300 farmers and drone pilots visited a Bayer drone event in Nakhon Ratchasima on Feb. 27, 2024, according to Bayer.

Where do Thai growers buy their products?

Based on distribution channel, the market is categorized into licensed agrochemical dealers, cooperative supply stores, direct contract supply and licensed digital sales. Licensed Agrochemical Dealers led with 62.0% of 2025 value, because dealers offer credit and spray advice in every district, while 3,133 agricultural cooperatives served 6,046,792 members in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office. Licensed Digital Sales grow fastest at 6.58% a year, as the agriculture ministry worked with Shopee, Lazada and TikTok to close 94 fraudulent online stores and steer buyers to licensed sellers.

Replacement chemistry and export residue rules lift demand

How does replacement chemistry renew grower portfolios?

Two of the most used farm chemicals left the Thai market at once, which forced every dealer to rebuild its weed and insect lineup. Paraquat and chlorpyrifos were reclassified as category four hazardous substances in June 2020, which made them illegal to sell, use or possess, according to Dialogue Earth. Glyphosate stayed legal as a category 3 substance, and over 230 other agrochemicals remain in use. BASF launched Basta-X glufosinate in Chumphon in June 2022 with new approvals for cassava and rubber. Corteva Agriscience said in October 2018 that weeds affect about 40% of Thai farms, or 3.5 million hectares. As a result, herbicides keep 43.0% of 2025 value, while newer bioherbicides enter trials as non-selective options.

Why is spraying now tied to export quality?

Fruit buyers in China test Thai shipments for residues and contaminants, so orchard spray choices now decide export access. Thailand exported 1.8 million tons of fresh fruit worth 177 billion baht from January to November 2024, and durian, mangosteen and longan made up 94% of that value, according to the government public relations department. Durian contamination controls for China took effect on Jan. 10, 2025, with checks at packing houses in Chumphon and Nakhon Si Thammarat. In 2025, Thailand shipped 939,892 tons of durian to China worth 150,279 million baht, according to The Star. In turn, growers buy registered fungicides and insecticides that fit residue limits, which supports fruits and vegetables at 5.60% a year.

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How do IPM programs raise grower capability?

Trained farmers choose products by pest threshold rather than by calendar, which shifts spending toward targeted products. The Better Rice Initiative Asia IPM project ran from October 2018 to September 2021 with the Rice Department, and it trained 1,270 farmers in Suphanburi and set up 27 community pest management centers, according to the Thai-German cooperation program. The project also targeted training for at least 400 pesticide retailers and IPM service providers. BASF set a goal of training 5,000 Thai farmers on stewardship and crop safety by the end of 2022. As a result, dealers sell more targeted products, and Suphanburi growers in the Central Plain buy by scouting results rather than habit.

How does pest pressure in field crops sustain demand?

Rice, maize and sugarcane cover most of the cultivated area, and each crop faces recurring insect, weed and disease outbreaks. The FAO forecast 2025/26 paddy output at 33.5 million tons, with the main rainfed crop at about 80% of annual output, according to its GIEWS country brief. Syngenta said in October 2025 that fall armyworm can cut maize yields by up to 40% a season across 6 to 7 million rai. White leaf disease, spread by insects, hit sugarcane in the northeast hard in 2025, according to ChiniMandi in December 2025. As a result, insecticides and herbicides keep large volumes, and cereals and grains hold 38.0% of 2025 value.

Biologicals, drone spraying and orchard growth reshape use

Why is the shift to biological products gaining pace?

Exporters and growers want lower residues without losing yield, so biological products are moving into mainstream spray programs. Syngenta launched a liquid biologicals packaging line at its Bangpoo plant in Samut Prakan, with capacity of 10,500 liters a day and planned output rising from 80 tons in 2025 to 200 tons in 2026, according to The Nation. The company said local packing could cut packaging costs by up to 36% over five years. In October 2025, Syngenta also promoted its Quantis and GEA Power biological products to Thai maize growers. In turn, biopesticides and biostimulants enter spray programs alongside synthetic fungicides and insecticides on fruit and field crops.

How is the rise of drone spraying changing application?

Service providers can treat paddies far faster than backpack crews, so drone spraying is moving from trials to routine work. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand issued Announcement No. 3 of 2025, effective Aug. 11, 2025, requiring agricultural drone operators to register through the UAS Portal, buy liability insurance and notify officials 12 hours before flights. Bayer joined the One Tambon One Digital community drone project with the Digital Economy Promotion Agency on Feb. 27, 2024, where over 300 farmers and pilots visited its booth. As a result, agricultural drones lift foliar spraying, which grows at 5.11% a year, the fastest application rate.

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Expanding durian orchards open new fungicide demand

Each new durian tree needs root rot and leaf disease control for years before its first harvest, which builds recurring demand. The national durian bearing area is expected to reach 1,391,421 rai in 2026, up 9.93% from 1,265,778 rai, with output projected at 1,781,019 tons, according to The Star in March 2026. Uttaradit in the north had over 93.1 square kilometers of durian by June 2025, according to FreshPlaza. Durian is replacing coffee, oil palm and rubber in Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, according to The Nation in April 2025. As a result, orchard fungicide programs become the largest new source of demand for Thai dealers and cooperatives through 2035.

Is there room for verified online and dealer sales?

The agriculture ministry is steering buyers away from fake products, which gives licensed online and dealer sellers room to grow. The ministry set up a Cyber Agricultural Inspector unit and worked with Shopee, Lazada and TikTok to close 94 fraudulent online stores, according to Thailand Edition. It also runs Q-Shop, which promotes legitimate input retailers, and Q-Factory for producers of fertilizers and hazardous substances. Agricultural cooperatives had 6,046,792 members in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office, which gives licensed sellers a large buyer base. As a result, licensed digital sales grow at 6.58% a year, the fastest channel rate through 2035.

Farm prices, illegal products and residues weigh on sales

How do weak farm prices limit spending on inputs?

Growers cut spray rounds when crop income falls, and both cane and rice prices dropped sharply in 2025. The initial 2025-26 cane price was expected at 900 baht a ton, down 22% from a year earlier, according to ChiniMandi in December 2025. Domestic rice prices were about 30% below year-earlier levels in December 2025, according to the FAO. As a result, rice and cane growers trade down to cheaper generics, which slows value growth for originator brands in the northeast.

Why do illegal and unregistered products undercut dealers?

Unregistered products sell below registered prices and avoid stewardship costs, which takes volume from licensed dealers. On Nov. 24, 2025, the Department of Agriculture and consumer protection police seized 25 unregistered items, about 663 liters and 234 kilograms worth over 1 million baht, in Lamphun and Chiang Mai, according to Thansettakij. In turn, growers face crop damage and residue risks from unknown formulations. Registered suppliers respond with traceable packs, dealer training and support for ministry inspections.

How does residue testing put export orchards at risk?

One failed shipment can halt buying from a packing house, so residue findings carry a heavy cost for exporters. Thai-PAN found that 68% of market fruit and vegetable samples exceeded maximum residue limits at the end of 2024, with carbendazim in almost every contaminated sample. China also tests Thai durian for Basic Yellow 2 dye and cadmium, according to the Office of Agricultural Economics in January 2026. As a result, exporters buy only from GAP-certified orchards, which favors growers with documented spray records.

Why do health concerns raise regulatory pressure?

Poisoning cases keep hazardous products under review, and each new restriction removes tools that growers rely on. More than 50 farmers in northeastern sugarcane areas suffered severe chemical burns and infections in 2017, according to Dialogue Earth. The Thai FDA has also adopted zero tolerance for residues of banned chemicals, including on imported foods. In turn, more active ingredients may face restriction, which forces suppliers to fund new registrations and pushes growers toward safer and often costlier products.

Central and eastern zone leads while the south grows fastest

Why does Central and Eastern Thailand hold the largest share?

Irrigated rice and eastern orchards make this zone the largest buyer, with 36.0% of 2025 value and growth of 4.90% a year, because irrigated rice in the Central Plain carries two or more crops a year. Chanthaburi, Rayong and Trat are the key durian provinces, according to The Nation in April 2025, and eastern supply peaks in May and June. In turn, dealers in the zone sell fungicides and insecticides for orchards alongside rice herbicides, while Syngenta packs products at Bangpoo in Samut Prakan.

How does northeastern Thailand shape field crop demand?

Rainfed field crops anchor demand in the northeast, which held 30.0% of 2025 value and grows at 4.60% a year, because the zone grows most of the rainfed rice, cassava and sugarcane. About 45% of Thai sugarcane is produced in the northeast, and about 70% of the crop is grown on plots under 10 hectares contracted to mills, according to Dialogue Earth. The northeast also holds 25.70% of Thai cooperatives, according to the ICA-AP, which keeps cooperative supply stores important for small growers.

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What drives demand in Northern Thailand?

Upland maize and fruit farms held 17.0% of 2025 value in the north and grow at 4.20% a year, because maize, rice, longan and lychee dominate upland farms. The FAO reported generally favorable conditions for the second maize crop in the Northern Region in January 2026. However, lychee orchards are shrinking as growers switch to rubber, maize, durian and avocado, according to The Nation, which keeps growth slower than in the south.

Why is Southern Thailand growing fastest?

New durian planting makes the south the fastest zone, with 17.0% of 2025 value and growth of 5.20% a year, because growers in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Yala are replacing rubber, oil palm and coffee with durian. Southern durian supply begins in June, according to The Star, and officials inspect packing houses in Chumphon and Nakhon Si Thammarat. As a result, new orchards add fungicide demand on top of herbicides used across rubber and oil palm plantations.

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Durian controls, drone rules and new plant lines, 2024-2026

Glufosinate, biologicals and drones change spray programs

• Glufosinate herbicides such as BASF Basta-X give rice, cassava and rubber growers a non-selective contact option after the June 2020 paraquat ban.
• Biological products packed locally at Bangpoo let growers lower residues on export fruit, which supports durian and maize programs.
• Spray drones registered through the UAS Portal treat paddies quickly, which cuts labor needs and improves timing of foliar sprays.
• Residue testing at packing houses checks shipments before export to China, which pushes orchards to keep spray records and use registered products.

Multinational originators compete with off-patent suppliers

Competition is led by multinational originators that sell branded herbicides, fungicides and insecticides through dealer networks, alongside importers of off-patent generics. Syngenta Crop Protection runs the Bangpoo plant in Samut Prakan and added a biologicals packaging line in 2025. Bayer Crop Science has operated in Thailand for 62 years, with seven offices, plants and research sites and more than 1,500 staff, and it promotes drone spraying with government agencies. BASF Agricultural Solutions sells Basta-X glufosinate and set a goal of training 5,000 Thai farmers on stewardship and crop safety by the end of 2022. Local formulators and importers of off-patent generics compete mainly on price through district dealers, which keeps pressure on branded margins in rice and cassava. Corteva Agriscience has targeted rice weed control with its Rinskor active. Rivals compete on registration breadth, dealer credit, field advice, residue compliance and price, while illegal sellers pressure prices.

Companies profiled and their roles in this market

Credence Research view on export-led spray programs

Credence Research's view is that Thai crop protection spending will grow steadily, because export fruit, replacement chemistry and trained growers favor registered products. Durian expansion and China residue checks lift fungicide and insecticide use on orchards, while rice and cane growers stay price-sensitive. However, weak farm prices and illegal products will cap value growth in field crops. Suppliers that pair registered chemistry with biologicals, drone services and residue support should gain share through 2035. Herbicides will still hold the largest share of Thai crop protection demand, while fungicides gain fastest as about 1.39 million rai of durian reaches bearing age in 2026.

How the Thai farm-level product estimate was built

The report uses 2025 as the base year on a calendar basis, and market values come from the Credence Research model. That model combines crop output data from the FAO, trade data on pesticide imports, government releases on export controls and company disclosures on products and plants. Segment and regional splits are Credence Research estimates based on planted area, crop value and orchard growth by zone. Sources used are government releases, statistical databases, company announcements and industry news, and no interviews or surveys were used.

Fruit exports and stewardship carry demand to 2035

Crop protection spending is expected to reach USD 710.3 million by 2035, a 4.75% CAGR during 2026–2035, as fruit exports, orchard expansion and replacement chemistry keep demand rising. Growth should stay steady through 2028 while durian area expands and drone spraying spreads. After that, biological products, residue compliance and licensed online sales will carry growth as rice and cane demand matures. Weaker crop prices would lower this outlook, while stronger fruit exports would raise it. Fungicides are expected to grow at 5.44% a year, the fastest product rate. Southern Thailand should lead regional demand growth as durian planting spreads across Chumphon and Surat Thani by 2035.

Note: The depth of individual sections depends on data availability for this market. Volume, capacity, trade and other unit-based metrics are included where applicable.