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Pharma & chemicals

Export agrochemicals (pesticides)

Generic insecticides, fungicides and herbicides; Brazil and the USA are by far the largest buyers.

Free to exportHS 3808
HS code
3808
Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, plant-growth regulators, disinfectants and similar products, in retail packs or as preparations (3808). Technical-grade active ingredients are often classified in Chapter 29.
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 as checked in November 2026. Most pesticides are free to export, but the maker needs registration under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and chemicals listed under the Rotterdam (PIC) and Stockholm conventions carry extra conditions; a few precursors are on the SCOMET list. Confirm your exact 8-digit line on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before you ship.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 3.87 bn
to 141 countries

What is exported

India is one of the largest exporters of generic (off-patent) crop-protection chemicals, made mainly in Gujarat (Ankleshwar, Dahej, Vapi), Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 3.9 billion under HS 3808; Brazil and the USA together took nearly half, followed by Vietnam, China, Belgium and Japan. Every buyer country requires the product to be registered with its pesticide regulator before it can be sold.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • InsecticidesOrganophosphates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids and newer generics.
  • FungicidesMancozeb, copper oxychloride, triazoles and strobilurins.
  • Herbicides2,4-D, glyphosate formulations and selective herbicides.
  • Technical grade and formulationsBulk active ingredient for formulators, or ready EC, WP, SC and WDG packs.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratAnkleshwar, Dahej, Vapi, Panoli and Saykha
  • MaharashtraMumbai–Thane, Roha and Lote Parshuram
  • Telangana and Andhra PradeshHyderabad and Visakhapatnam

Export packing

  • Technical grade in UN-approved fibre or HDPE drums and IBCs; formulations in UN-approved bottles and cartons.
  • Labels in the buyer country's language as approved in its registration, with GHS hazard marks and antidote information.
  • Dangerous Goods Declaration and SDS for each consignment.

Who buys abroad

  • Registration holders and formulators abroad
  • Multinational crop-protection companies (contract manufacturing)
  • Distributors in Africa, Asia and Latin America
  • Government agriculture tenders

The quality buyers ask for

Active ingredient content
Technical purity (for example 95% or 98% min.) or formulation strength (EC, WP, SC) per FAO/WHO specification
Impurities
Relevant impurities within FAO/WHO or registration limits
Physical properties
Suspensibility, emulsion stability, wettability and storage stability per CIPAC methods
Equivalence
Technical equivalence to the reference source for registration
Packaging
UN-approved packaging rated for the product's hazard class

Certificates

  • CIB&RC registration (Insecticides Act, 1968)RequiredNeeded to make and export the pesticide from India, including export-only registration.
  • Product registration in the importing countryRequiredNo pesticide can be sold without it (for example US EPA, Brazil MAPA).
  • GLP-compliant study reportsOften askedFive-batch analysis and toxicology data accepted by regulators.
  • Safety Data Sheet and DG documentsRequiredRequired for transport of hazardous pesticides.
  • ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 45001Often askedSystems multinational buyers expect from contract makers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft container typically holds about 14–18 tonnes in drums or 16–20 IBCs; DG limits and segregation rules apply.

How it travels

Sea freight under IMDG rules.

Storage

Cool, ventilated, locked storage away from food and feed.

Shelf life

Typically two years for most formulations, as stated on the registration label.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • The label approved in the buyer country's registration — language, crops, doses, safety and first-aid text.
  • GHS pictograms, signal word, UN number and toxicity class.
  • Batch, manufacturing and expiry dates, registration number and maker.
Where to get it tested

The Central Insecticides Laboratory (Faridabad) and State pesticide testing labs work under the Insecticides Act. NABL- and GLP-certified labs carry out five-batch analysis and studies for foreign registration (search 'pesticides' in the NABL directory).

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • CHEMEXCILBasic chemicals including agro chemicals are listed under CHEMEXCIL in Appendix 2T; take your RCMC from CHEMEXCIL.chemexcil.in ↗
  • CIB&RC (Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee)Registration of the pesticide under the Insecticides Act, 1968 — including registration for export only — and a manufacturing licence from the State agriculture department.ppqs.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Product registration in the buyer country (for example US EPA under FIFRA, Brazil's MAPA/ANVISA/IBAMA, EU approval of the active substance), usually backed by equivalence and toxicology data.
  • Five-batch analysis and impurity profile from a GLP-compliant lab; certificate of analysis for every batch.
  • Rotterdam Convention: for chemicals in Annex III, export notification and the importing country's decision must be respected.
How to start small

Registration in the buyer country is the real barrier. A newcomer usually starts by supplying technical-grade material or formulations to an importer who already holds the registration, often in Africa, South-East Asia or Latin America, on LC terms.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Shipping a product not registered in the destination — it will be refused or destroyed.
  • Wrong dangerous-goods packing and labelling; most pesticides are hazardous cargo.
  • Ignoring PIC export notifications for listed chemicals.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 3808 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2) and SCOMET list (Appendix 3)
  4. Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage — CIB&RC (pesticide registration)
  5. Rotterdam Convention — Prior Informed Consent procedure for hazardous chemicals and pesticides
  6. CHEMEXCIL — official site

Trade data

Indian agrochemicals (pesticides) exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 3.87 bn
+1.6% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -9.4%
US$ 4.27 bn → US$ 3.87 bn
Buyer countries
141
Average export price
US$ 6.40
per kg · 6,05,092 tonnes shipped · US$ 6.17 the year before
Brazil: US$ 937 mnUnited States of America: US$ 872 mnVietnam: US$ 128 mnChina: US$ 108 mnBelgium: US$ 107 mnJapan: US$ 89.6 mnFrance: US$ 86.6 mnArgentina: US$ 85.7 mnBangladesh: US$ 75.5 mnIndonesia: US$ 72.7 mnAustralia: US$ 71.5 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 60.4 mnThailand: US$ 52.4 mnRussia: US$ 51.3 mnTanzania: US$ 48.7 mnNigeria: US$ 45.9 mnNetherlands: US$ 45.4 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 41.5 mnMexico: US$ 38.2 mnGermany: US$ 38 mnColombia: US$ 37.3 mnKenya: US$ 35.3 mnSingapore: US$ 34.6 mnTürkiye: US$ 30.9 mnBrazil: US$ 937 mnBrazilUnited States of America: US$ 872 mnUnited States of AmericaVietnam: US$ 128 mnVietnamChina: US$ 108 mnChinaBelgium: US$ 107 mnBelgiumJapan: US$ 89.6 mnFrance: US$ 86.6 mnArgentina: US$ 85.7 mnArgentinaBangladesh: US$ 75.5 mnIndonesia: US$ 72.7 mnAustralia: US$ 71.5 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 60.4 mnThailand: US$ 52.4 mnRussia: US$ 51.3 mnTanzania: US$ 48.7 mnNigeria: US$ 45.9 mnNetherlands: US$ 45.4 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 41.5 mnMexico: US$ 38.2 mnGermany: US$ 38 mnColombia: US$ 37.3 mnKenya: US$ 35.3 mnSingapore: US$ 34.6 mnTürkiye: US$ 30.9 mnIndia
Where Indian agrochemicals (pesticides) goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 3.58 bn3.6k2020-212021-22: US$ 4.89 bn4.9k2021-222022-23: US$ 5.37 bn5.4k2022-232023-24: US$ 4.19 bn4.2k2023-242024-25: US$ 4.27 bn4.3k2024-252025-26: US$ 3.87 bn3.9k2025-26
India’s agrochemicals (pesticides) exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2024-25 — a 38% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 6.71 per kg2021-22: US$ 7.55 per kg2022-23: US$ 8.53 per kg8.532024-25: US$ 6.17 per kg6.172025-26: US$ 6.40 per kg6.402020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian agrochemicals (pesticides) · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 3.58 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 4.89 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 5.37 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 4.19 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 4.27 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 3.87 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 4.21 bn (US$ 3.35 bn – US$ 5.28 bn)4.2k2026-272027-28: US$ 4.18 bn (US$ 3.24 bn – US$ 5.38 bn)4.2k2027-28
India’s agrochemicals (pesticides) exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 4.18 bn

Likely range US$ 3.24 bn to US$ 5.38 bn.

Trend
-0.7% a year
Fit (R²)
0.01 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1BrazilUS$ 937 mn-16%
2United States of AmericaUS$ 872 mn+14%
3VietnamUS$ 128 mn+4%
4ChinaUS$ 108 mn+7.4%
5BelgiumUS$ 107 mn+9.9%
6JapanUS$ 89.6 mn-78%
7FranceUS$ 86.6 mn+2.4%
8ArgentinaUS$ 85.7 mn-10.1%
9BangladeshUS$ 75.5 mn+0.3%
10IndonesiaUS$ 72.7 mn+3.6%
11AustraliaUS$ 71.5 mn-7.2%
12United KingdomUS$ 60.4 mn+13.4%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. TanzaniaUS$ 29 mn → US$ 48.7 mn+67.8%
  2. NigeriaUS$ 28.3 mn → US$ 45.9 mn+61.9%
  3. United States of AmericaUS$ 765 mn → US$ 872 mn+14%
  4. United KingdomUS$ 53.2 mn → US$ 60.4 mn+13.4%

Low demand

  1. JapanUS$ 407 mn → US$ 89.6 mn-78%
  2. ColombiaUS$ 67.4 mn → US$ 37.3 mn-44.7%
  3. TürkiyeUS$ 43.5 mn → US$ 30.9 mn-28.8%
  4. ItalyUS$ 41.4 mn → US$ 29.5 mn-28.8%
  5. SingaporeUS$ 45.3 mn → US$ 34.6 mn-23.7%
  6. RussiaUS$ 61.8 mn → US$ 51.3 mn-16.9%
  7. BrazilUS$ 1.12 bn → US$ 937 mn-16%
  8. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 48.1 mn → US$ 41.5 mn-13.7%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Other insecticide not elsewhere specified3808 91 99 · Insecticides, other than containing goods specified in Subheading Notes 1 & 2 to this Chapter, put up in…US$ 989 mn-9.2%1,07,472 tonnesUS$ 9.20 per kgwas US$ 10.72
Fungicides, other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter, put up in forms or… — others-of-fungicides:3808 92 99US$ 696 mn—1,65,816 tonnesUS$ 4.20 per kg
Others-of-herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulated:3808 93 99 · Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators, other than containing goods of Subheading…US$ 508 mn—70,655 tonnesUS$ 7.19 per kg
Goods specified in supplementary note 8 to this chapter3808 93 62 · Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators, other than containing goods of Subheading…US$ 454 mn—24,455 tonnesUS$ 18.57 per kg
Others-of-others-of-insctcds,rdntcds,fngcds,hrbcds,antsproutngprdcts and plntgrwth rgltrs-dsinfctnts etcin pckngs/as articles (s3808 69 00 · Insecticides, containing goods named in Subheading Note 2 to this Chapter, put up in forms or packings for…US$ 190 mn+20.3%17,476 tonnesUS$ 10.88 per kgwas US$ 10.71
Goods specified in supplementary note 1 to this chapter3808 91 41 · Insecticides, other than containing goods specified in Subheading Notes 1 & 2 to this Chapter, put up in…US$ 141 mn+70.4%18,852 tonnesUS$ 7.50 per kgwas US$ 5.53
Goods specified in supplementary note 7 to this chapter3808 93 61 · Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators, other than containing goods of Subheading…US$ 126 mn+1,57,937.5%17,328 tonnesUS$ 7.30 per kgwas US$ 4.54
Goods specified in supplementary note 5 to this chapter3808 92 60 · Fungicides, other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter, put up in forms or…US$ 102 mn+10,24,000%31,722 tonnesUS$ 3.23 per kgwas US$ 2.50
Insecticides, other than containing goods specified in Subheading Notes 1 & 2 to this Chapter, put up in… — cipermethrin technical3808 91 35US$ 98 mn-10.8%20,272 tonnesUS$ 4.84 per kgwas US$ 5.58
Weedicides and weed killing agents3808 93 50 · Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators, other than containing goods of Subheading…US$ 95.6 mn+26.7%8,403 tonnesUS$ 11.38 per kgwas US$ 10.86
Others-of-others-of-insctcds,rdntcds,fngcds,hrbcds,antsproutngprdcts and plntgrwth rgltrs-dsinfctnts etcin pckngs/as articles (s3808 99 99 · Rodenticides and other similar products in heading no. 3808.9, other than containing goods specified in…US$ 77.9 mn—15,185 tonnesUS$ 5.13 per kg
2:4 dichlorophenoxy actc acd and its esters3808 93 20 · Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators, other than containing goods of Subheading…US$ 74.7 mn+5.9%37,488 tonnesUS$ 1.99 per kgwas US$ 1.91
Disinfectants, other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 in this Chapter, put up in forms… — others-of-disinfectants3808 94 90US$ 37.2 mn—19,629 tonnesUS$ 1.90 per kg
Goods specified in supplementary note 2 to this chapter3808 91 42 · Insecticides, other than containing goods specified in Subheading Notes 1 & 2 to this Chapter, put up in…US$ 36.9 mn+15,930.4%2,203 tonnesUS$ 16.73 per kgwas US$ 7.88

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 42.4 bn
2023
India among exporters
#3
of 154 countries
India’s share of world exports
10.1%
US$ 4.32 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 38.3 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 8.09 bn 19%
  2. 2USAUS$ 4.74 bn 11.1%
  3. 3IndiaUS$ 4.32 bn 10.1%
  4. 4FranceUS$ 4.15 bn 9.7%
  5. 5GermanyUS$ 3.78 bn 8.9%
  6. 6SpainUS$ 1.74 bn 4.1%
  7. 7United KingdomUS$ 1.24 bn 2.9%
  8. 8IsraelUS$ 1.16 bn 2.7%
  9. 9HungaryUS$ 1.05 bn 2.5%
  10. 10ItalyUS$ 1 bn 2.4%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1BrazilUS$ 4.92 bn 11.6%
  2. 2FranceUS$ 2.34 bn 5.5%
  3. 3CanadaUS$ 2.05 bn 4.8%
  4. 4GermanyUS$ 1.79 bn 4.2%
  5. 5USAUS$ 1.67 bn 3.9%
  6. 6IndiaUS$ 1.47 bn 3.5%
  7. 7AustraliaUS$ 1.22 bn 2.9%
  8. 8ItalyUS$ 1.06 bn 2.5%
  9. 9PolandUS$ 1.03 bn 2.4%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 980 mn 2.3%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

FranceUS$ 2.07 bnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 2.06 bn
CanadaUS$ 1.92 bnIndia 1.9% · gap US$ 1.88 bn
GermanyUS$ 1.56 bnIndia 1.6% · gap US$ 1.54 bn
United States of AmericaUS$ 1.59 bnIndia 7.8% · gap US$ 1.46 bn
AustraliaUS$ 1.22 bnIndia 3.9% · gap US$ 1.17 bn
ItalyUS$ 1.07 bnIndia 0.6% · gap US$ 1.06 bn
SpainUS$ 930 mnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 923 mn
VietnamUS$ 973 mnIndia 9.3% · gap US$ 883 mn
United KingdomUS$ 866 mnIndia 1.8% · gap US$ 851 mn
ChinaUS$ 814 mnIndia 6.9% · gap US$ 758 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export agrochemicals (pesticides)

India is among the largest exporters of generic crop-protection chemicals, with large plants in Gujarat and Maharashtra making both technical-grade ingredients and formulations. China is the main competitor and a key supplier of intermediates; multinational companies dominate branded and patented products. Demand comes from big farm economies such as Brazil, the USA and Argentina, and from Asia and Africa. Openings are in off-patent molecules, contract manufacturing for multinationals, and registered formulations for emerging markets.

  1. 01Pick molecules and markets

    Off-patent molecules with demand where registration is feasible.

  2. 02Register in India

    CIB&RC registration (export-only if not sold in India) and State manufacturing licence.

  3. 03Register abroad

    Through an importer or your own subsidiary; supply data packages.

  4. 04Check PIC status

    For Rotterdam-listed chemicals, follow export notification rules.

  5. 05Produce and test

    Batch certificate of analysis to the registered specification.

  6. 06Pack and ship as DG

    UN packaging, labels, DG declaration and segregation.

  7. 07Payment

    LC or credit-insured terms; agrochemical buyers often ask for 90–180 days credit — use ECGC cover.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting agrochemicals (pesticides)

Can I export a pesticide banned in India?
Only under the conditions of the Insecticides Act and Schedule 2, and only where the importing country allows it; PIC rules may apply. Check with CIB&RC and DGFT.
What is the Rotterdam Convention?
A treaty under which exports of listed hazardous chemicals need prior informed consent from the importing country.
Which council?
CHEMEXCIL (basic chemicals including agro chemicals).
What RoDTEP applies?
Lines under 3808 that we checked carry 0.7% to 1.2% of FOB; confirm your 8-digit line.
How long does foreign registration take?
Often one to several years depending on the country and data needed; plan and budget for it before selling.
Sources (6)
  1. Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage — CIB&RC (pesticide registration)
  2. Rotterdam Convention — Prior Informed Consent procedure for hazardous chemicals and pesticides
  3. CHEMEXCIL — official site
  4. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  5. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27
  6. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2) and SCOMET list (Appendix 3)

Who buys Indian agrochemicals (pesticides)

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