US Imports of Essential Oils, 2009 to 2013 Part Two

Import volumes and unit values for a range of essential oil imports into the US
are given in the Tables below.
Care is needed in assessing import price information as in many cases the data
presented will cover a range of qualities. In some cases, the data will cover
several different oil types clove oil data will include both clove bud oil, clove
stem oil, and clove leaf oil, and prices are different for each of these oils; cassia
oil data covers both cassia and true cinnamon oils, etc. However, not
withstanding these complications, the data give an indication of prices, volumes
and trends.
In general the European import market is larger than the US market for
essential oils, with France having a controlling position in the import of many
essential oils. European imports will be 30 to 50% higher than US imports in
many cases. However, the EU only gives a breakdown of imports for a
restricted range of essential oil, so the US provides a better data set.
1.

The Mint Oils

The 3 main types of mint are peppermint, spearmint, and cornmint. While
peppermint and spearmint are used as flavourings in their own right, cornmint is
primarily used as a source of menthol (and de-mentholised mint oil) and is the
dominant form cultivated. Over the past 20 years India has come to dominate
the global production of mint oils current annual production totals for cornmint
oil in India are estimated at around 45,000 tonnes.
Peppermint and spearmint command higher prices than cornmint oil which
has become a commodity.
1.1

Peppermint oil: Mentha x piperita

1.2

Spearmint oil (Mentha spicata)

1.3

Cornmint (Mentha arvensis)

1.4

Mints NESOI

2.

Lavender oil (Lavandula spp.)

Supply of lavender oil is dominated by France. France is the largest global

origin for lavender oil, and plays a central and controlling role in the trade for all
different lavender oils. Prices had been firming steadily, reaching US$34/kg in
2012, but fell back sharply in 2013. A number of small origins are selling at
substantially higher prices.

3.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Supply of rosemary oil is dominated by Mediterranean origins (Spain, France,

Tunisia, Morocco), with Spain commanding a very significant price premium
(around double) over the other origins.

4.

Petitgrain oil (C. aurantium var. arama)

(From the leaves and green twigs of bitter orange tree)

Supply of petitgrain is traditionally dominated by Paraguay, although Egypt is
increasing production, and Spain and France make steady supplies. Paraguay
sells at a substantial discount to all other origins.

5.

Rose attar (Rosa spp.)

Data for rose oil (rose attar) mixes product of very different qualities, ranging
from more or less pure rose oil (at around US$10,000/kg) to heavily
manipulated product (at less than $500/kg) and everything in between. Supply
is dominated by France due to its position in the fragrance trade, but Bulgaria is
the major production origin.

6.

Nutmeg oil (Myristica fragrans)

Supply of nutmeg oil is dominated by Indonesia, with India and Sri Lanka
making small supplies. Grenada no longer makes significant supplies. Oil
prices have increased consistently since Grenadian production was lost after
the hurricane in 2004 and are currently around US$100/kg.

7.

Spice Oleoresins

7.1

Paprika oleoresin

Production of paprika oleoresin is now dominated by India using moderately

coloured/moderately pungent capsicums as a feedstock for the production of
paprika and capsaicin oleoresins. Spain still has a role in the trade, both from
its own production and as an entrepot center for African and S American
production, but increasingly India has a clear competitive advantage in both
production and extraction over all other origins.

7.2

Black pepper oleoresin

India also dominates the supply of black pepper oleoresin.

7.3

Other oleoresins

The breadth and scale of spice production in India, and the scale of its
extraction industry, has enabled India to develop a dominant position in the
export supply of the full range of spice oleoresins.