India’s Turn in the Global Trade Spotlight!

Firstly, India is a large and fast-growing market for crop protection products, and while its unique complexities have led one major global supplier to recently exit the market, others are focusing on it as a growth driver. 

As a trading partner, Canada’s pulse growers know firsthand of India’s willingness to use tariffs as a policy tool when convenient. As a CP manufacturing hub – similar to other segments – India has been regarded as an important option to diversify away from higher cost European production and from overreliance on China. With abundant labour and access to discounted oil, many ingredients have been in place for India to expand as a supply base. 

ADAMA has a successful business in India, with a strong commercial team, R&D labs and manufacturing plants. At this point ADAMA Canada does limited sourcing from our India team, but it remains a key option in our globally diversified network of assets providing supply chain flexibility when needed.  

However, its share of US crop protection imports – which have remained relatively stable at 15-20% - point to challenges in quickly scaling up exports. Where the current US-India trade tensions go is still to be determined, particularly as President Trump is personally involved, but it's worth remembering that the more objective recent US ruling on 2,4D dumping did assess new duties on Indian suppliers. 

All told India remains an important and growing market for and supplier of crop protection product, but challenges remain for both those seeking to sell to and buy from this emerging market.