Makhteshim Agan
Encyclopedia
Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd (also known as MA Industries, MAI) is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of branded off-patent pesticides. Makhteshim-Agan is the world's seventh largest company in the global agrochemical sector with an approximately 5% market share for off-patent proprietary and branded products. In 1997, Makhteshim-Agan became a publicly traded company comprising two veteran companies: Makhteshim (1952) and Agan (1945), both involved in the manufacture of pesticides. In 2011 the company was acquired by ChemChina.
For the year ended 31 December 2010, the company reported revenues of US$2.37 billion..
where, in 1952, Makhteshim Chemical Works, producer and distributor of insecticides and fungicides, was established with funding from the Nir Company of the Histadrut
(Labor Federation).
In 1973, Agan relocated once again to larger facilities in Ashdod, where it remains to this day. In the same year, Agan and Makhteshim established a partnership for worldwide distribution of their products. In 1997, the two companies merged to form Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd., a major player in the industry that provides food for the world’s population. Since 2000, the company has demonstrated initiative and creativity in its business activities, taking risks that have borne a new era of global expansion.
described the deal as "a big achievement for the economy of Israel." After the deal, ChemChina owns 60% of the company, with Koor retaining the remaining 40%, and and as a result the company’s shares have been delisted from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
.
, Beer Sheba, Ashdod and Brazil
. In addition, the Group has smaller manufacturing facilities in Colombia
, Poland
, Spain
and Greece
. Makhteshim-Agan has the largest generic distribution network in the world, comprising 43 marketing firms throughout the companies' markets in Europe
, North America
, Latin America
, Asia
, Pacific, Africa
and the Middle East
.
Makhteshim-Agan’s principal area of activity is in the pesticide sector where about 92% of the company’s revenues are generated. The company’s agrochemical product range includes three basic types: herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. These products improve the quality and quantity of crop
yields by providing protection from weed
s, insects and fungi. In recent years, the Group has increased its portfolio of products and its activities in stable markets.
Non-Agrochemical Products
Makhteshim-Agan has exploited its chemical and industrial know-how to develop additional products such as Lycopene (antioxidant), specialty aroma chemicals and other fine chemicals, which account for 8% of the company’s revenues.
, is the only U.S. producer of endosulfan
, an organochlorine pesticide. The company markets the pesticide under the names Thionex 50W and Thionex 3EC. The United States Environmental Protection Agency
announced in June 2010 that it would be banning endosulfan and was in discussions with Makhteshim Agan about discontinuing its manufacture. The director of global governmental and industry relations for the company stated "MANA continues to disagree fundamentally with EPA’s conclusions regarding endosulfan.” A global ban on the use and manufacture of endosulfan is being considered under the Stockholm Convention
. MANA made its last production run of Endosulfan in 2010, and it should last for two more years. MANA will then stop selling the product, and will not make anymore Endosulfan.
For the year ended 31 December 2010, the company reported revenues of US$2.37 billion..
History
In 1944, Zvi Zur and Michael Pikarski established the Agan Cooperative for the development of chemical products for the growing agricultural industry of the fledgling Jewish state. They were later joined by colleagues Israel Tamir and Eliyahu Teomim. In 1954 the cooperative was dismantled and incorporated as a company – Agan Chemical Manufacturers, for the development and production of herbicides. Zvi Zur left Agan and relocated to the NegevNegev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
where, in 1952, Makhteshim Chemical Works, producer and distributor of insecticides and fungicides, was established with funding from the Nir Company of the Histadrut
Histadrut
HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael , known as the Histadrut, is Israel's organization of trade unions. Established in December 1920 during the British Mandate for Palestine, it became one of the most powerful institutions of the State of Israel.-History:The Histadrut was founded in...
(Labor Federation).
In 1973, Agan relocated once again to larger facilities in Ashdod, where it remains to this day. In the same year, Agan and Makhteshim established a partnership for worldwide distribution of their products. In 1997, the two companies merged to form Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd., a major player in the industry that provides food for the world’s population. Since 2000, the company has demonstrated initiative and creativity in its business activities, taking risks that have borne a new era of global expansion.
Acquisition by ChemChina
In October 2011, Makhteshim Agan was acquired by China National Agrochemical Corporation, a subsidiary of China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina). ChemChina paid US$2.4 billion to conclude the deal – $1.272 billion to public shareholders and $1.128 billion to Koor Industries. Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
described the deal as "a big achievement for the economy of Israel." After the deal, ChemChina owns 60% of the company, with Koor retaining the remaining 40%, and and as a result the company’s shares have been delisted from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in Tel Aviv is Israel's only stock exchange.The TASE is the only public market for trading securities in Israel. It plays a major role in the Israeli economy....
.
Operations
The group has several manufacturing facilities worldwide with key facilities located in Ramat HovavRamat Hovav
Ramat Hovav is an industrial zone in southern Israel and the site of Israel's main hazardous waste disposal facility. Ramat Hovav Industrial Zone is the locus of 19 chemical factories, including Makhteshim Agan, a pesticide plant; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, a pharmaceuticals plant; Israel...
, Beer Sheba, Ashdod and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. In addition, the Group has smaller manufacturing facilities in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Makhteshim-Agan has the largest generic distribution network in the world, comprising 43 marketing firms throughout the companies' markets in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Pacific, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Products
PesticidesMakhteshim-Agan’s principal area of activity is in the pesticide sector where about 92% of the company’s revenues are generated. The company’s agrochemical product range includes three basic types: herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. These products improve the quality and quantity of crop
Crop
Crop may refer to:* Crop, a plant grown and harvested for agricultural use* Crop , part of the alimentary tract of some animals* Crop , a modified whip used in horseback riding or disciplining humans...
yields by providing protection from weed
Weed
A weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. More specifically, the term is often used to...
s, insects and fungi. In recent years, the Group has increased its portfolio of products and its activities in stable markets.
Non-Agrochemical Products
Makhteshim-Agan has exploited its chemical and industrial know-how to develop additional products such as Lycopene (antioxidant), specialty aroma chemicals and other fine chemicals, which account for 8% of the company’s revenues.
Global Presence
- North America
- Bold Formulators
- Control Solutions
- Alligare
- Farmsaver / Quali Pro
- Quali Pro
- South America
- Milenia Agrociencias (Brazil)
- Agricur Defensive Agricolas (Brazil)
- Magan Argentina S.A
- MA Costa Rica
- Bravo Ag
- MA Guatemala
- MANA Canada
- MANA (USA)
- Irvita
- Quena
- Proficol (Colombia)
- Asia, Pacific and Africa
- Agan Chemical Manufacturers (Israel)
- Makhteshim Chemical Works (Israel)
- Makhteshim Agan Singapore
- MA India
- Agronica (New Zealand)
- MA Japan
- MA West Africa (Ghana)
- Agronica (New Zealand)
- MAGAN Korea
- JK Korea
- MA Thailand
- MA South Africa
- MA Australia
- MA China (Shanghai)
- Europe
- MAUK (UK)
- Makhteshim-Agan Benelux & Nordic
- MA Poland
- MA Espana
- MA France
- MA Italia
- MA Marom (Romania)
- MA Switzerland
- Agribul (Bulgaria)
- Agrovita (Czech Republic)
- MA Portugal
- MARUS (Russia)
- Feinchemie (Germany)
- MA Hungary
- MAGAN Agrochemicals (Serbia)
- Aragonesas Agro (Spain)
- Alfa Agricultural Supplies (Greece)
- MAGAN Italia
- MA Hungary
- MA Ukraine
- Kollant (Italy)
- Lycored
- Agan Aroma & Fine Chemicals
Endosulfan
Makhteshim Agan of North America (MANA), located in North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, is the only U.S. producer of endosulfan
Endosulfan
Endosulfan is an off-patent organochlorine insecticide and acaricide that is being phased out globally. Endosulfan became a highly controversial agrichemical due to its acute toxicity, potential for bioaccumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor...
, an organochlorine pesticide. The company markets the pesticide under the names Thionex 50W and Thionex 3EC. The United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
announced in June 2010 that it would be banning endosulfan and was in discussions with Makhteshim Agan about discontinuing its manufacture. The director of global governmental and industry relations for the company stated "MANA continues to disagree fundamentally with EPA’s conclusions regarding endosulfan.” A global ban on the use and manufacture of endosulfan is being considered under the Stockholm Convention
Stockholm Convention
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty, signed in 2001 and effective from May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants .- History :...
. MANA made its last production run of Endosulfan in 2010, and it should last for two more years. MANA will then stop selling the product, and will not make anymore Endosulfan.