Citro Essential Oils to increase export revenue to Rs. 60 mn in 2012

Sara Pathirana

Citro Essential Oils (Pvt.) Ltd is looking to increase their export revenue this year to Rs. 60 million. This would be a 15 % increase as against the previous year.

K. Ananda Kularatna. Picture by Nissanka Wijerathna

K. Ananda Kularatna, Managing Director, Citro Essential Oils, said that the global demand is increasing stadily and this was the reason for the increase of revenue. "Currently our main markets are USA, UK, Australia and the European market and we are also in the look out for new global markets."

Citro Essential Oils also have a regional office in Australia.

"Currently we have 2,000 acres grown by 250 out growers in Panamura area in the Ratnapura district under our out growers concept. However this is inadequate to meet the current demand," he said. Kularatne who is also a Director of the recently opened Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort, said that they are experiencing a complex issue with regard to labour as the industry is turning to a dying industry with today's generation, keeping away from gaining employment in this segment. He said that they have being involved in this industry for generations with his grandfather starting the business way back in 1940's and the company being registered in 1952 by his father.

"We used to first supply to local exporters and gradually started exports on our own from 1989."

Today while being one of the largest exporters of Citro oil our company is also the only manufacturer of citronella oil," he added. The company uses the method of steam for the distilling of the citronella, where the extracting is mainly through the leaves and stems of the plant. The oil is used for the manufacture of perfumed, candles, herbal medicine, disinfectants and is also a natural mosquito repellant.

The company also supplies to their local manufacturers and with tourism booming there is also increase in this segment."We have also reinvested and since last year pumping several millions for the increase production of oils."