EU pesticide sales fall

By: STA Date: 2025. 05. 14. 09:15

Around 292,000 tonnes of pesticides were sold in the European Union in 2023, the lowest level since 2011, down 9% from the previous year and 18% from 2021, the EU’s statistics office Eurostat said on Tuesday.

(Photo: Pixabay)

Fungicides and bactericides accounted for the largest share of the products sold, accounting for 39% of total sales. This was followed by herbicides, defoliants and moss killers with 36%, and insecticides and acaricides with 17%. Based on the geographical distribution of sales, France was the largest market in the EU, with 23% of total sales. Spain followed with 18%, while Germany and Italy each accounted for 14% of total sales. These four countries are also among the largest agricultural producers in the EU.

According to Eurostat data, there were significant differences in the development of pesticide sales between Member States between 2011 and 2023

Out of the 21 countries examined, 16 saw a decrease in the volume sold. The largest declines were recorded in Portugal and Italy, both by 44 percent. Ireland and Slovenia recorded a decrease of 38 percent. In contrast, five countries saw an increase, notably in Latvia, where sales increased by 55 percent, in Austria by 52 percent and in Lithuania by 11 percent.

MTI