Maxunitech’s Strategy to Support Growers in Glyphosate and Glufosinate Resistance

Established in 2000, Maxunitech is a multinational corporation engaging in R&D, production, application, marketing, and sales in crop protection, aquatic ecosystem restoration, vegetation management, and environmental protection. Maxunitech North America, Inc. was established in 2017, dedicated to providing finished products to its partners in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

The company currently has three manufacturing plants dedicated to organic synthesis, with a combined area of 51 hectares (ha) and total capacity of 14,000 MT/annum. A fourth manufacturing plant, covering 30 ha and 12,000 MT/annum capacity, is currently under construction. Additionally, Maxunitech also operates a dedicated formulation facility, with a 30,000 MT/annum formulating capacity.  

AgriBusiness Global talked with Jeffrey Ma, CEO of Maxunitech North America, Inc. and Head of International Corporate Development for Maxunitech, Inc. about the changes of the crop protection market and the company’s strategies to bring to their products to market. 

ABG: With your recent acquisition of Shijie Chemicals, was this brought on to increase production of sulfentrazone and flumioxazin technical, if so, what regions of the world are you hoping to expand into the markets for these products?  

Jeffrey Ma: Prior to acquiring Shijie Chemicals, Maxunitech had existing production lines for both sulfentrazone and flumioxazin at its pre-existing production facilities. With the new capacity from the acquisition, Maxunitech grew its total production capacity to a total of 4,000 MT per year for sulfentrazone technical and 3,000 MT per year for flumioxazin technical, making Maxunitech the largest producer for both sulfentrazone and flumioxazin in the world. Additionally, the acquisition allows Maxunitech to fully back integrate the production of intermediates from basic raw materials, positioning Maxunitech as a reliable supplier of quality products.  

With strong manufacturing capacity, Maxunitech and its subsidiary companies are targeting global markets. We have obtained registrations and market access in in North America, South America, Australia, and China with our portfolio of sulfentrazone and flumioxazin. 

In the U.S., Maxunitech has launched multiple products under its own brand, including sulfentrazone 480SC, sulfentrazone 75%WDG, sulfentrazone + carfentrazone SE, sulfentrazone + S-metolachlor EC, flumioxazin 480SC, and flumioxazin 51%WDG. Outside of the sulfentrazon and flumioxazin product lines, Maxunitech has launched under its own brand, among others, carfentrazone 240EC, carfentrazone 1.9EW, prothioconazole 480SC, prothioconazole + tebuconazole EC, and pinoxaden 100EC.

In Brazil and Argentina, Maxunitech has launched multiple products under its own registrations, including sulfentrazone 500SC, sulfentrazone 75%WDG,  flumioxazin 480SC, flumioxazin 500SC, and flumioxazin 50%WDG. Outside of the sulfentrazon and flumioxazin product lines, Maxunitech has launched, among others, carfentrazone 400EC, triclopyr BEE 667EC, and trinexapac-ethyl 250EC.

ABG: What agrochemicals do you see taking the lead in the next ten years (not including glyphosate or glufosinate)? 

JM: While we believe biopesticides will continue to gain popularity and have ourselves dedicated time and resources in their development, we believe chemical pesticides still have a large role and will continue to dominate the market for at least the next ten years.  

Among chemical pesticides, the protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) class of herbicides, such as flumioxazin and sulfentrazone, represent a crucial category Maxunitech is focused on. These herbicides work by inhibiting a specific enzyme in the plant’s protoplast, called protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO), which effectively blocks the weed’s photosynthetic pathway, leading to rapid death. This mechanism is entirely different from other widely used herbicides like glyphosate and glufosinate, allowing PPO inhibitors to complement and enhance weed management strategies.  

Resistance to common herbicides like glyphosate is increasing around the globe due to their continuous and heavy use. PPO inhibitors can help mitigate these resistance issues by offering a mix with glyphosate and glufosinate, significantly enhancing overall weed control.  

Additionally, unlike glyphosate and glufosinate, which are contact herbicides that act quickly upon contact but have a relatively short efficacy period, requiring multiple applications, PPO inhibitors are often used as long-lasting residual herbicides. Their prolonged residual activity in the soil effectively prevents the emergence and growth of new weeds.  

As global attention to the perceived environmental impact of herbicides increases, regions like Southeast Asia and Mexico are contemplating bans on glyphosate, signaling a rising demand for alternative herbicide options. Due to their efficacy and relatively lower environmental impact, PPO inhibitors have become the preferred alternative for weed management in these areas. Looking ahead, as the global agricultural market’s demand for resistance-managing and eco-friendly herbicides grows, PPO inhibitors are poised to occupy a more prominent position in the agrochemical market, becoming a key tool in achieving a win-win situation for agricultural production. 

Maxunitech currently offers three PPO active ingredients (AIs) in its portfolio: sulfentrazone, carfentrazone, and flumioxazin. Next in our PPO herbicide pipeline are saflufenacil, trifludimoxazin, tiafenacil, and pyraclonil. By leveraging the unique properties of PPO herbicides, along with different mechanisms of action, Maxunitech aims to provide farmers with a more comprehensive and sustainable weed management plan. 

ABG: With China working toward sustainability, have you had to change anything at your business to comply with sustainability? 

JM: Sustainability has always been at the core of Maxunitech’s ethos, both in its development strategy as well as in its production. 

On the production side, we have implemented safe, green, and economical production practices, following EHSQ guidelines, that focus on building an intrinsically safe and environmentally friendly enterprise. All our production facilities have passed ISO 9001/14001/18001 certification. We are also planning to seek production facilities outside of China to ensure stable supply and formulate finished goods in the target market so that we can better supply our customers. 

On the market side, we have established branches and formed local teams in key markets including North America, South America, and Europe. 

Maxunitech also attaches great importance to intellectual property issues. Whether it’s technicals or finished goods, we ensure our products do not infringe any patents (including but not limited to patents for compounds, crystals, processes, formulas, and applications). 

All the above ensures the sustainable development of Maxunitech and our ability to be a long-term partner in the market, aiming for joint and sustainable growth alongside our partners. 

ABG: What challenges are in the international crop protection market and what strategy is your company implementing to overcome these challenges? 

JM: In recent years, the number of new compounds on the market has gradually decreased, but the cost of research and development for new compounds has increased. This has resulted in fierce competition in the non-patented product market. At the same time, with increased production capacity in China and India, particularly with illegal production capacity in China for those that do not follow the relevant laws and regulations, many products are overproduced, driving product prices down. However, the Chinese government is advocating the reduction of overall capacity as well as strengthening management and enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations. Non-compliant production will gradually be cleared, which should help restore the balance of supply and demand. 

One way Maxunitech has mitigated the above challenges is to focus on improving our product’s competitiveness through technological innovation. Maxunitech’s products such as sulfentrazone, carfentrazone, triclopyr, and pinoxaden, are produced using Maxunitech’s own independent intellectual property.  Additionally, Maxunitech independently produces certain key raw materials and intermediates, which allows us to have a greater grasp on not only total costs but also overall quality, leading to overall greater efficacy.  

At the same time, Maxunitech is actively expanding into downstream formulations and international markets to improve the overall competitiveness of our products. Besides ensuring high-quality products, Maxunitech aims to provide superior services to our partners, meeting the diverse needs of our global partners. Maxunitech actively keeps a pulse on various market indicators, such as the planting level of GMO crops, to select products that are complementary to glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium and have low resistance to weeds and pests, providing the best solutions and high-quality products to growers around the world.  

ABG: What kind of R&D is your company currently focused on?  

JM: R&D is at the core of Maxunitech. Maxunitech first began as an R&D lab and later expanded to operate its own production facilities to better serve our partners as a reliably supplier of quality products. Now, Maxunitech has evolved to seamlessly integrate its expertise across the entire product lifecycle. We bridge innovation from the laboratory to practical applications.  

Our focus areas are novel process chemistry (bench work, pilot production); chemical engineering (chemical engineering design, SOPs establishment); waste management; formula and formulation process; and biological potency and field trials (GAP establishment).  

With more than 1,300 employees, Maxunitech embodies a holistic approach, integrating R&D, manufacturing capabilities, and go to market strategies. This enables us to solve commercial problems through a technical approach that drives business growth with value added products and services that meet our partners’ needs.  

Our R&D team comprises more than 200 highly skilled researchers and innovators, many with advanced degrees, such as over 21 Ph.Ds and more than 100 MS/MBA degrees, along with state-of-the-art equipment and laboratory space. Our team has obtained more than 340 patents globally and has developed processes for the commercial production of 29 technical, of which 14 leverage our own proprietary patented processes. Those products where Maxunitech utilizes its own patented processes include: flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, carfentrazon, triclopyr BEE, pinoxaden, thidiazuron, saflufenacil, flufenacet, prodiamine, trinexapac-ethyl, diclosulam, cloransulam, and prothioconazole. 

ABG: What regions is your company trying to get registrations in? How is it going? 

JM: Maxunitech’s has a global strategy with a focus on key markets, such as: North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and China, where we hold our own registrations. In other global markets, we support our local partners to obtain registrations in their local markets. 

Our regulatory team, comprised of experts with diverse backgrounds, has achieved more than 85 ICAMA registrations, and more than 300 international registrations, with many being the first generic in key geographies, underscoring our commitment to compliance and ensuring registration approval of our products in various global markets. 

Current Maxunitech registration approvals: 

• 21 Registration Approvals in the USA 

• 13 Registration Approvals in Canada 

• 80+ ICAMA Registration Approvals 

• 12 Registration Approvals in Brazil          

• 10 Registration Approvals in Argentina 

• 8 TEQs in the EU 

• 31 Registration Approvals in Australia 

In addition to our own registrations, we have also supported our partners in obtaining registration approvals for 48 AIs with the USEPA and supported our partners in obtaining registration approvals for 165 products in other international markets.   •

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