Insecticides: Production route
Pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, diamides: how each class kills pests
What this tab covers How it is made: the main production routes or, for product families, the main product types and technologies, compared on share of supply, inputs per tonne, plant scale, yield, co-products and unit cost.Insecticides are grouped by mode of action. Pyrethroids and organophosphates are old, cheap and high volume. Neonicotinoids took over in the 1990s and 2000s and are now restricted in Europe. Diamides, led by chlorantraniliprole (FMC's Rynaxypyr), became the largest new class and went generic from about 2022 (indicative). Biologicals, such as Bt and spinosad, are a small but growing share. Each class depends on a few intermediates, which is where Chinese and Indian makers compete.
Routes compared
| Route | Share of supply | Inputs per tonne | Typical scale | Yield | Co-products | Unit cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrethroids (cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin) | probably about 15-20% of insecticide value (indicative) | about 0.55 t acid chloride and 0.5 t alcohol component per t cypermethrin (stoichiometric, indicative) | 1-10 kt/yr per product line (indicative) | high in esterification (indicative) | HCl, solvent waste | not published |
| Neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, acetamiprid) | probably about 20-25% of insecticide value (indicative) | about 0.65 t CCMP per t imidacloprid (stoichiometric, indicative) | 5-20 kt/yr (indicative) | not published | chlorinated waste | not published |
| Diamides (chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, flubendiamide) | probably 15-20% of insecticide value and falling in price as generics grow (indicative) | about 0.4 t bromine-bearing intermediate per t (stoichiometric, indicative) | 1-5 kt/yr (indicative) | not published | high solvent and salt waste (E-factor high) | not published |
| Organophosphates and carbamates (chlorpyrifos, acephate, profenofos) | probably 15-20% by value, more by tonnage, shrinking (indicative) | about 0.55 t trichloropyridinol per t chlorpyrifos (stoichiometric, indicative) | 10-50 kt/yr (indicative) | high | salts, sulphurous waste | not published |
| Biological insecticides (Bt, spinosad, baculoviruses, botanicals) | probably under 10% of insecticide value (indicative) | sugars and proteins as fermentation media | fermenters of 50-200 m3 (indicative) | not published | spent biomass | higher per hectare than generics (indicative) |
How each route works
Pyrethroids (cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin)A cyclopropane carboxylic acid chloride, such as DV-acid chloride or the fluorinated lambda acid, is esterified with an aromatic alcohol or cyanohydrin. Isomer control sets potency.
Cheap, fast knockdown; toxic to fish and bees, resistance widespread.
stoichiometry; indicative Neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, acetamiprid)CCMP, made from 3-picoline or cyclopentadiene routes, is coupled with an imidazolidine or nitroguanidine ring. Mostly used as seed treatments and systemic sprays.
Systemic and low dose; bee toxicity led to EU outdoor ban in 2018.
European Commission (2018); indicative Diamides (chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, flubendiamide)A brominated pyrazole carboxylic acid is coupled with an anthranilamide; flubendiamide uses fluorinated anilines. Long synthesis with expensive intermediates.
Very low toxicity to mammals and beneficials; resistance emerging in some pests.
indicative; PI Industries is a long-standing custom manufacturer for innovators (indicative) Organophosphates and carbamates (chlorpyrifos, acephate, profenofos)Phosphorus thiochlorides from PCl3 and sulphur react with phenols or pyridinols. Acephate is made from methamidophos chemistry.
Cheap and broad; neurotoxic, banned in the EU (chlorpyrifos 2020) and restricted in the US.
indicative Biological insecticides (Bt, spinosad, baculoviruses, botanicals)Fermentation of Bacillus thuringiensis or Saccharopolyspora spinosa (spinosad), or rearing of viruses and extraction of botanicals such as azadirachtin from neem.
Low residue and selective; shorter shelf life and slower action.
indicative Unit economics are indicative ranges from the sources named; costs move with feedstock and energy prices, plant size and region.