China's Abamectin Prices Turn Up After a 31% Slide: Two-Year Trend and Outlook

After more than a year of decline, the price of abamectin technical in China has started to rise again. The October 2026 average for 95% technical was RMB 365,000 per tonne, up 3.2% from September, according to monthly data from Chinese market information provider Longzhong (Oilchem). That is still about 11% lower than a year ago and 28% below the 2025 high, so prices remain close to their lowest level in two years.

Abamectin is one of the most widely used insecticides and miticides in vegetables, fruit, cotton and rice, and China produces most of the world's supply. It is also the starting material for emamectin benzoate, so a change in abamectin prices usually reaches emamectin buyers as well.

Two years in numbers

• November 2024: RMB 470,000 per tonne • April to June 2025: RMB 510,000 per tonne, the high of the period • December 2025: RMB 390,000 per tonne after six months of decline • March 2026: RMB 480,000 per tonne after a short rally on higher costs • September 2026: RMB 353,800 per tonne, the low of the period and about 31% below the 2025 high • October 2026: RMB 365,000 per tonne, the first monthly increase since spring • November 2026 forecast: around RMB 375,000 per tonne

Prices are monthly averages for 95% technical in the Chinese domestic market and include VAT. At the October 2026 exchange rate of about 6.72 yuan per US dollar, RMB 365,000 is roughly USD 54,000 per tonne. Export offers are quoted separately and can differ from domestic prices.

Why prices fell

From mid-2025 the market had more product than buyers needed. Formulators held large stocks and bought only for immediate needs, and export orders grew slowly. Prices slipped month after month through the second half of 2025.

A rally in early 2026 did not last. Leading producers raised offers to RMB 480,000 per tonne in March as raw material costs rose, but the removal of China's export VAT rebate on pesticides from April 2026 put pressure on the whole sector, and demand did not keep up.

In summer, abamectin faced a second problem. It is made by fermentation, and high temperatures make production difficult, so many plants reduced output or stopped for maintenance in June and July. Even so, downstream inventories were large and the main selling season was over. In July the average price fell 13% in a single month, and producers were selling below cost.

Why prices are turning now

Several factors changed in October:

• Supply is tighter. Some plants in North China have cut output, and producers are controlling the volume they release instead of selling at low prices. • Costs give firm support. Raw material costs remain high, and plants in Northwest China have raised their offers. • Inventories are reasonable. Factory stocks are no longer heavy, and demand for mixture products remains steady.

Main producers are quoting RMB 400,000 per tonne, while channel transactions are around RMB 370,000. In July and September deals were done at RMB 350,000 to 360,000, so the gap between quoted and actual prices is closing.

Emamectin benzoate follows

Emamectin benzoate, which is made from abamectin, shows the same pattern. The October average was RMB 526,300 per tonne (70% basis), about 14% lower than a year ago and well below the March 2026 level of RMB 640,000. Producers say the abamectin price gives emamectin a firm cost floor, so the two products are likely to move together.

Outlook

Longzhong expects abamectin to average around RMB 375,000 per tonne in November. The wider Chinese insecticide market is expected to trade sideways, with some recovery as winter stocking begins. A strong rally looks unlikely because formulators still have stock, but with producers holding back supply, a return to the September low also looks less likely.

What this means for international buyers

• Prices are near a two-year low. For buyers who need abamectin or emamectin benzoate for the 2027 season, current levels are much lower than in 2025. • The direction has changed. After more than a year of falling prices, waiting for further declines carries more risk than before. • Expect firmer offers. Producers are limiting low-price sales, so discounts may be harder to get. • Plan ahead for the spring season. Confirming first-quarter 2027 volumes early helps secure both price and shipping space before the busy season.

How Sinocropchem can help

We follow abamectin and emamectin benzoate prices every month and can share the latest market information with customers. If you are planning purchases for the coming season, we can discuss volumes and delivery timing with you.

If you would like a current offer for abamectin, emamectin benzoate or other insecticides, please contact your Sinocropchem representative.

Sources

• Longzhong Information (Oilchem), China Insecticide Monthly Reports, November 2024 to October 2026 • China interbank central parity rate, USD/CNY 6.7165 on 28 October 2026, as cited in Longzhong's October 2026 fungicide report