Summary: In early May, prices of most insecticides TC continued to drop. Prices of carbamate insecticides TC basically kept stable, but prices of some pyrethroid insecticides TC and nicotinoid insecticides TC decreased by over 10% MoM due to weak demand.

In early May, prices of most insecticides TC were set lower since downstream demand was still weak and market inventory were at a high level. Many buyers were hesitant to place an order. Although carbamate insecticides TC and certain organophosphorus insecticides TC had stable price, most pyrethroid insecticides TC and nicotinoid insecticides TC experienced continuous price fall due to lowered raw material price as well as insufficient demand.

Organophosphorus insecticides: Ex-works price of malathion TC was stable, while the prices of profenofos TC, phoxim TC and chlorpyrifos TC went down, especially the latter two with the prices down over 6% MoM again. For chlorpyrifos, export orders contracted and domestic demand was sluggish. Early this month, chlorpyrifos producers such as Jiangsu Fengshan Group Co., Ltd. and Shandong Luba Chemical Co., Ltd. had normal production, while Chongqing Huage Biochemical Co., Ltd. still suspended its lines. Given a relatively slack demand for organophosphorus insecticides in China, prices of some products may drop in the short term.

Carbamate insecticides: Prices of carbamate insecticides TC were basically stable. Considering still weak downstream demand and a surge in demand impossible in the short term, prices of these carbamate insecticides will remain stable in the near future.

Pyrethroid insecticides: Ex-works prices of most pyrethroid insecticides TC decreased mainly due to insufficient domestic demand. Prices of bifenthrin TC, lambda-cyhalothrin TC and deltamethrin TC went down by about 10%, 12% and 14% MoM, respectively. Considering large inventory of some intermediates and a downward trend in their prices, pyrethroid insecticides TC may continue to witness price decline in the short term.

Nicotinoid insecticides: Ex-works prices of nicotinoid insecticides were lowered in general due to slack domestic demand and small exports. Prices of imidacloprid TC and acetamiprid TC dived over 10% MoM. Imidacloprid TC exports shrank, and orders at home market were few. Some imidacloprid producers suspended operation early this month, such as Wuzhong Linghang Biological & Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Anhui Huaxing Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Changlong Agrochemical Co., Ltd. Shandong Hailir Chemicals Co., Ltd.'s lines were in normal production, and Shandong Sino-Agri United Biotechnology Co., Ltd.'s lines operated at a low level. Supply of 2-nitroaminoimidazoline, an intermediate for imidacloprid production, was slightly unstable. Supply of another intermediate 2-chloro-5-chloromethylpyridine (CCMP) was in good order in this period, with the price rather stable. Ex-works prices of nicotinoid insecticides may decline further in the short term, given an expected weak demand both at home and abroad.