Report

South America Molluscicides Market Analysis

The South America molluscicides market is expected to grow from USD 120 million in 2025 to USD 127.02 million in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 168.62 million by 2031 at 5.83% CAGR over 2026-2031. The South America molluscicides market is benefiting from climate-induced humidity spikes that accelerate gastropod breeding cycles, a swift transition toward safer iron-phosphate actives, and public subsidy programs that reward integrated pest management compliance. Brazil retains leadership in large-scale horticulture exports, robust coffee and sugarcane acreage, and government credit lines that link loan eligibility to sustainable pest-control protocols. Colombia's specialty-crop boom and Chile's export-quality mandates further reinforce regional demand while favoring premium, rain-fast pellet innovations. Competitive intensity is moderate, with five suppliers capturing significant revenue share, yet niche local formulators remain relevant by tailoring products to micro-climates and resistance-management needs.

South America Molluscicides Market Trends and Insights



Escalating Slug and Snail Infestations from Climate-Change-Driven Humidity Spikes

Warmer temperatures and heavier rainfall shorten the dormancy period for Deroceras and Pomacea species, intensifying gastropod attacks in soybeans, coffee, and vegetables. Field studies show that a 2 C temperature increase combined with 20% more precipitation can triple reproductive rates, forcing growers to extend baiting windows well into harvest. Brazilian Cerrado farms now schedule two additional pellet applications per season to protect early-maturing horticulture crops. Similar trends surface in Colombia's Andean valleys, where persistent dew films allow slugs to feed overnight even during traditionally dry months. The expanded pressure elevates per-hectare molluscicide spending, especially on high-potency pellets that survive recurring rain events.

Government Subsidy Programs for Sustainable Coffee, Sugarcane, and Horticulture Production

Brazil's National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture offers subsidized credit only when growers document integrated pest-management plans that favor ferric-phosphate over metaldehyde. Colombia's coffee-sector modernization grants reimburse up to 30% of molluscicide costs if GPS-guided spreaders are used, spurring adoption of variable-rate pellets. Argentina widened its sustainable-farming tax code in 2025 to credit molluscicide resistance-management plans, indirectly lifting demand for dual-mode baits. These financial carrots shift purchasing decisions away from lowest-cost options toward safer formulations that pass residue audits. As subsidies tie compliance to loan terms, demand remains resilient even when commodity prices soften .

Tightening South American Regulations on Metaldehyde Residues

Brazil's ANVISA harmonized maximum-residue limits with European thresholds in 2024, forcing growers to lower field rates or pivot to ferric-phosphate for export-bound produce. Argentina's SENASA added buffer-zone and timing rules that complicate metaldehyde scheduling during rainy seasons. Compliance audits often coincide with peak harvest, magnifying economic risk if residue fines suspend shipments. Distributors report a 15% drop in metaldehyde volume where coffee and berries are dominant. Regulatory drag, therefore, tempers the expansion of legacy chemistries despite their cost advantage.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

Surge in Horticulture Exports Demanding Blemish-Free ProduceLaunch of Rain-Fast, Extended-Residual Pellet FormulationsHigh Cost Premium of Iron-Phosphate Active Ingredient

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Metaldehyde held 59.35% of South America's molluscicides market share in 2025, due to decades of cost-effective performance across soybeans, maize, and horticulture. Even so, iron-phosphate revenue is climbing at a 9.26% CAGR as export-certification bodies and domestic regulators impose stricter residue controls. The South America molluscicides market size for iron-phosphate products is forecast to almost double by 2031, with high-value fruit, vegetable, and ornamental segments absorbing the premium. Second-tier actives such as methiocarb maintain pockets of relevance in ornamentals, especially where rapid knockdown is required before shipment to urban retailers.

Combination products linking multiple modes of action are gaining traction as resistance emerges in continuous-cropping systems. Patent filings that pair niclosamide with carbaryl illustrate industry efforts to diversify chemical pressure while meeting evolving safety thresholds . Suppliers also explore biological co-formulants that improve palatability and regulate bait moisture, extending field life in humid micro-climates. These innovations collectively reinforce the perception that robust stewardship and safety compliance will dictate future active-ingredient adoption trajectories across the South America molluscicides market.

Contact formulations generated 40.75% of the South America molluscicides market size in 2025 due to proven broad-spectrum lethality, simple calibration, and compatibility with existing pellet spreaders. Marketing focus now pivots to next-generation repellent chemistries that create protective barriers for 2-3 weeks with minimal re-entry intervals, appealing to specialty-crop growers with high labor costs. Repellent revenues are forecast to expand at a 8.87% CAGR through 2031.

Ingestive baits remain a staple for perimeter defense around greenhouses, while systemic options serve niche aquatic uses where dissolved uptake curbs invasive snails. Regulatory agencies in Brazil and Argentina increasingly encourage rotation among contact, repellent, and ingestive modes to reduce resistance risk. As integrated pest management becomes mainstream, demand tilts toward labeled products that clearly specify mode-of-action groups, enabling growers to plan season-long rotation calendars.

The South America Molluscicides Market Report is Segmented by Active Ingredient (Metaldehyde, Iron Phosphate and More), by Mode of Action (Contact, Ingestive and More), by Formulation (Pellets, Liquids and More), by Crop Type (Cereals and Grains, and More), by Application Method (Agricultural Fields and More), and by Geography (Brazil, Argentina, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

Bayer AG BASF SE Syngenta AG De Sangosse Ltd. Lonza Group AG Adama Ltd. American Vanguard Corporation (AMVAC) ANASAC UPL Ltd. Bequisa Certis Biologicals Nufarm Limited

Additional Benefits:

The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
3 months of analyst support