American Vanguard Subsidiary Launches New Natural Insecticides for US Markets.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 16, 1999--

American Vanguard Corporation (ASE:AVD) today announced that AMVAC Chemical Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, received full EPA and California-EPA clearances under the reduced-risk, fast-track registration process, for three formulations of azadirachtin (Ornazin(TM), Amazin(TM) and Ecozin(TM)). All three products contain a patented azadirachtin technical from Fortune Biotech Limited, a recognized leader in azadirachtin extraction technology. All three products were launched into the specialty markets during June 1999.

Ornazin(TM) has been developed for greenhouse, turf and ornamental markets to control a wide range of insects including whiteflies, fungus gnats, leafminers, aphids, thrips, armyworms, weevils, Japanese beetles, sawflies and turf pests. Amazin(TM) has been developed for mushroom house use to control mushroom flies at low use rates and is virtually odorless. Ecozin(TM) has been developed for use in vegetable and fruit crops to control a wide range of pests including loopers, armyworms, cutworms, leafminers, beetles, maggots, and leafrollers on high-value crops including apples, pears, cranberries, blueberries, cabbage, spinach, celery and other leafy vegetables. AMVAC has applied for organic certification for the three products and expects that significant growth in the organic market sector will create additional market opportunities for these three products.

Fortune Biotech Limited will manufacture the technical grade azadirachtin in their modern 10,000 metric ton processing plant in India and AMVAC will manufacture the formulations at its Los Angeles manufacturing facility utilizing AMVAC's patent-pending formulation technology. The improvements made to the technical product and formulations have resulted in superior products with improved and consistent efficacy against key pests, longer shelf life and virtually no odor.

AMVAC is a manufacturer and marketer of crop protection and specialty products. Founded in 1969, it has realized 25% annual sales growth over the past ten years by expanding its product offerings and marketing and sales efforts in the U.S. and abroad. Its products include: Vapam(R), Bidrin(R), PCNB, Durham(TM) metaldehyde granules, Amid-Thin(R), Citrus Fix(TM), K-Salt(TM), Fruitone(R) and Tre-Hold(R). In addition to AMVAC Chemical Corporation, American Vanguard's subsidiaries include GemChem, Inc., a national chemical distributor, AMVAC Chemical UK Ltd., the Company's Surrey, England-based office; Quimica Amvac de Mexico S.A. de C.V., the Company's Mexico subsidiary; and Environmental Mediation, Inc., an environmental consulting firm.

Founded in 1993, Fortune Biotech Limited operates a world scale, state-of-the-art processing facility outside of Hyderabad, India. In addition to its azadirachtin product line, Fortune markets neem oil, deoiled neem cake, and is actively developing new products for the agricultural, consumer and animal health markets.

The Company, from time to time, may discuss forward-looking information. Except for the historical information contained in this release, all forward-looking information are estimates by the Company's management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management's current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy, and other risks as detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports and filings. Forward-looking statements in this release represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements.