Abamectin is a new antibiotic insecticide, acaricide and nematicide with 16-membered ring lactone structure. It was developed by Japan Kitasato University and Merck& Co., Inc. in 1976, and commercialized in 1985. Abamectin can be almost applied to all the crops to prevent and control all the pests with satisfactory effects, which has been the main pesticide with general acceptance of farmers. China has also became the largest producer and exporter of abamectin in the world.

Driven by high profit, the expanding productivity has been the widespread phenomenon in the domestic market. Following the substantially increase of market price, many corporations flocked to develop, produce and expand production. In the end of 2009, more than 20 corporations involved in this sector results in technicals productivity explosion. In 2010, 13 of corporations have capacity of 4,500 tons, however, the real market demand is stably around 2,500～3,000 tons lead to overcapacity and slump in sale prices. Because of co-control production of Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Hebei Xing Bai Pharmaceutical Group as well as market regulation, the market has gradually recovered in the second half of 2014. The price of abamectin powder has increased to 700 Yuan per kg. and its down-stream product emamectin benzoate has reached over 1000 Yuan per kg.. However, with the upward prices, demand has still not improved. In addition, due to the extension and increasing stock, corporations have weaker control capacity of market resulting in the decline of technical prices.

Recently, the main producers in China are Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hebei Xing Bai Pharmaceutical Group and Hebei Veyong Bio-chemical Co., Ltd., among which the equipments of Hebei Xing Bai Pharmaceutical Group has expanded to 1,000 tons with increased efficiency after culture upgration and real yields. With constantly improved technology, the cost of abamectin has still declined. As a result of limtation of market demand and overstock caused by previous shipment control, the supply of abamectin exceeds demand. According to statistics from SCI, the productivity of abamectin in China has reached to 4,700 tons, export volume exceeding more than a half of yield. In the second half of this year, foreign trade demand is low and wait-and-see attitude is strong, so the price of abamectin powder has minimum declined to 450 Yuan per kg. and its down-stream product emamectin benzoate has 600 Yuan per kg.  

The main corporations of abamectin powder and its capacity (t/a)

The waste water and gas in the producing process of abamectin powder and resistance issues has affected the development of abamectin in recent years. The corporations of abamectin is introducing advanced waste water treatment technology to address waste water issues. However, it undoubtedly enhances the cost of abamectin, so some dealers think the effect-price ratio of abamectin is relatively low. With the widespread of abamectin application, its resistance in the plants has increased year by year. Many corporations make efforts to research and develop the down-stream products and mixture products. Up to October, 2015, 985 of abamectin preparations have registered, among which 447 of single-dosages and 538 of mixtures, so the registration number of mixtures exceed single-dosage. The increasing mixture products varieties is benefitual to prolong the life cycle of abamectin.