S&P GLOBAL COMMODITY INSIGHTS REPORT India emerges as key player in growth and innovation, global vegetable seeds market thrives
Blackstone plans to add $25 bn in India private equity assets over five years
The global vegetable seeds market, valued at approximately USD 8 billion in 2022, continues to expand, driven by increasing demand for diverse vegetable varieties worldwide.
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights (GCI), India stands prominently among the top players in this sector, alongside countries such as China, Japan, and the United States.
The vegetable seeds market, characterised by its highly fragmented nature, presents both opportunities and challenges for industry stakeholders.
With over 40 different vegetable crops spanning various categories, species, and families, the market offers niches for companies to establish strong positions.
However, this diversity also poses challenges, particularly in organising and supplying complex product ranges.
Despite these challenges, competition in the vegetable seed market remains intense, with 12 companies boasting annual sales exceeding USD 100 million.
R&D expenditure in the sector is notably high, ranging from 15 per cent to 30 per cent of sales for most companies.
This investment reflects the industry's commitment to innovation and technological advancements, aimed at enhancing crop yields and characteristics such as taste, nutritional value, appearance, and shelf life.
Private equity firm Blackstone BX.Nwill invest an additional $25 billion in private equity assets in India over the next five years, its Asia executive told Bloomberg News in an interview.
Blackstone already manages assets, ranging from warehouses and data centres to healthcare firms, worth $50 billion in the South Asian country.
The New York-based firm will hire 20 investment professionals in the country and double its office space in Mumbai, Blackstone's head of private equity in Asia, Amit Dixit, told the publication. With its booming equities market, India has emerged as an attractive destination for investors across the world as they reduce their exposure to China, where hopes of a recovery remain clouded, Reuters reported.