Producer

FMC Corporation

FMCHQ US · Pennsylvaniawebsite ↗

FMC Corporation (Philadelphia PA; NYSE: FMC) manufactures bifenthrin (Brigade, Capture) and other pyrethroid insecticides for specialty crop and turf markets. FMC's bifenthrin is the dominant insecticide for California strawberries and is widely used in professional pest control. FMC sources bifenthrin technical grade primarily from its own manufacturing (La Porte TX plant for some formulations) and through Asian suppliers. FMC also develops next-generation insecticides (diamides, SDHI combinations) but remains a significant pyrethroid market participant.

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Inputs supplied

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Goods downstream

4

Facilities

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Stories

Where it shows up

Goods downstream

Essential goods that depend on something FMC Corporation makes, pick one to see the full supply chain.

Where they make it

4 facilities

FMC Corporation Agricultural Solutions R&D Center (Newark, Delaware)

US

Delaware · r_and_d

FMC Corporation Agricultural Solutions R&D Center (Newark Delaware; ~500 R&D staff; primary US discovery chemistry site for FMC's insecticide and herbicide pipeline). FMC discovered the diamide insecticide class (ryanodine receptor modulators including chlorantraniliprole/Coragen and cyantraniliprole/Exirel) at this Newark facility — a discovery that became one of the most commercially significant insecticide innovations of the 21st century. FMC licensed diamide technology to DuPont (now Corteva) in a cross-licensing arrangement. FMC's bifenthrin synthesis and formulation for Brigade is also coordinated from this R&D site, though manufacturing occurs at contract facilities. Source: https://www.fmc.com/en/about-fmc/locations

FMC Corporation La Porte TX Agricultural Chemicals

US

Texas · lab

FMC Corporation's La Porte TX facility on the Houston Ship Channel area is part of FMC's US agricultural chemicals manufacturing network. Produces pyrethroid formulations and other crop protection products. One of the few remaining US-based pyrethroid manufacturing operations.

FMC Newark New Jersey Facility

US

New Jersey · manufacturing

FMC North American operations center; specialty insecticide formulation and distribution.

FMC Rice Herbicide Distribution (Southern US)

US

Pocahontas, AR · distribution

FMC is major supplier of propanil and other rice herbicides to Arkansas and Southern rice belt; formulation and distribution for crop protection products serving rice growers

What else they do

Business segments

The company's full revenue map, where this supply-chain role fits within their broader business.

  • Diamide Insecticides (Rynaxypyr)

    45%
  • Pyrethroid Insecticides

    25%
  • Herbicides and Fungicides

    20%
  • Other Specialty Crop Protection

    10%

Intelligence

What's known

Sourced claims about this company's role in supply chains, chokepoints, concentration, incidents, dual-use connections.

  • Did you know2022

    FMC Corporation's bifenthrin — sold to fresh produce growers as Brigade for strawberry insect control in California — is chemically identical to the bifenthrin used in Permanone Tick Repellent, which the US Army issues to soldiers in malaria and Lyme disease zones for uniform treatment. Bifenthrin is a Type I pyrethroid insecticide that kills or repels Lygus bugs (the primary pest in California strawberries), ticks (Lyme disease vector), mosquitoes (malaria/dengue vector), and chiggers (scrub typhus vector). The same bifenthrin molecule produced by FMC's supply chain flows into: (1) Brigade applied to strawberry fields in Watsonville CA, (2) Permanone applied to US Army uniforms in Afghanistan/West Africa, (3) pet flea/tick collars (Seresto and similar), (4) public health vector control spray programs for West Nile virus mosquito abatement. FMC holds approximately 60-70% of the California strawberry insecticide market through Brigade — making FMC the de facto single supplier for the primary insect protection chemistry on America's most consumed fresh berry. If FMC's bifenthrin supply chain were disrupted, California strawberry growers, US Army logisticians, and public health vector control programs would simultaneously face the same supply shortage.

    California Department of Pesticide Regulation
  • Chokepoint2024

    FMC Corporation developed chlorantraniliprole (Rynaxypyr) — a diamide insecticide that became the world's best-selling insecticide active ingredient by value. FMC held a near-monopoly on diamide insecticides for over a decade until key patents began expiring in the 2020s, making it the 5th-largest global insecticide company with outsized leverage over diamide supply for fruits, vegetables, and cotton.

    FMC Corporation
  • Concentration2022

    FMC Corporation's bifenthrin (Brigade) is the single most widely used insecticide in California strawberry production, applied to protect against multiple pest species. The same bifenthrin compound is used in professional pest control for residential and commercial properties (Talstar brand) and in turf management. FMC's market position in high-value specialty segments — where premium pricing survives despite Chinese generic competition — illustrates how Western agrochemical companies have retreated to niche applications while China dominates commodity pyrethroid volume.

    FMC Corporation