The total market for rodenticide products in the U.S. is estimated at over $400 million, according to our latest research, with the consumer market growing more than 10% over the past few years and the professional market increasing by approximately 5%. The overall figure is based on early estimates of sales in the consumer, professional pest management, agriculture, and urban centers segments at the manufacturers level.
“Controlling rodents goes beyond them being nuisance pests ― it’s a matter of public health concern,” says Laura Mahecha, Director of our Agrochemicals sector. “Rodents, which include rats, mice, squirrels, gophers, prairie dogs, and chipmunks, can carry a variety of diseases that can spread easily to humans or contaminate food sources.”
Consumer-applied rodenticides are purchased at a wide variety of channels, with the majority of sales coming from mass merchandisers (31%), home improvement centers (30%), and supermarkets and grocery stores (11%). Leading consumer brands include d-CON, Tomcat, and Raid.
“Consumer demand is increasing because people are spending more time at home than before the pandemic and, with work-from-home arrangements continuing to be prevalent, they’re noticing pests and rodents more,” says Mahecha. “As a result, they’re treating more frequently with do-it-yourself products and hiring professional pest control companies.”
Mahecha notes that consumer-applied rodenticides are a much more inexpensive alternative to professional pest control service and, with inflation and a looming recession, U.S. consumers are more conscious of spending ― and are expected to remain so for the next few years. “In many cases, rodent problems tend not to be big colonies of rodents but rather one animal,” says Mahecha. “Hence, consumers find it cheaper to buy singular bait products to trap the single rodent.”
Bait stations are preferable to some due to concerns over the safety of rodenticide products being used. Many dangerous chemicals have been banned for consumer use, and rodenticides sold in bait station form are ready-to-use, tamper-proof, and help prevent contamination for consumers and vulnerable groups including children, pets and local wildlife.
Meanwhile, in a recent Kline survey of pest management professionals (PMPs), nearly 40% of PMPs indicate that they are using more pesticides and rodenticides than a year ago due to increased demand, increased incidence of pests, and increased awareness among consumers who are spending more time at home. Leading rodent control brands used include Contrac, Fastrac, Selontra, and Generation. Both the consumer and professional markets are expected to continue growing by solid growth rates over the next few years due to the increased demand, along with higher prices for rodenticide chemicals.
Kline’s Rodent Control U.S. report, to be published in December 2022, will include details on both consumer and professional rodenticides used in residential and commercial buildings, along with information on rodenticides used in production animal health, food handling, row crop, and urban center usage and sales of rodenticides.
Meanwhile, Kline’s Professional Pest Management U.S. study was published in October 2022. Based on more than 500 structured surveys with PMPs, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the professional pest management market, details on important pest management market segments, key trends, developments, changes, challenges, and business opportunities.
And finally, Kline recently launched the Consumer Markets for Pesticides and Fertilizer U.S. study and will be fielding a detailed survey with 1,500 consumers to understand usage and spending patterns, brand and ingredient preferences, and use of alternative and biological products.
For more information about any of these studies, contact us or visit our website at klinegroup.com.
