KATHMANDU, Dec 20: Export of rosin and turpentine is increasing in recent years.
Rosin, which is collected from live pine trees, is being exported to different neighboring countries, including India. Nepal exported rosin and resin acid worth Rs 1.70 billion to India and Pakistan in Fiscal Year 2015/16.
Krishna Raj Bajgai, senior office of Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), said that the export of rosin and resin acid is increasing. “Until few years ago, rosin exports used to be in millions. Now it is fetching billions of rupees,” he added.
According to TEPC, Nepal exported rosin worth Rs 1.70 billion and resin acid and raw materials worth Rs 510 million in the last fiscal year. Around 10.34 million kilograms of rosin, rosin acid and raw materials were exported in the last fiscal year.
Nepal used to export rosin to China until 2012/13. However, there has not been any such export to the northern neighbor in the past three years. The country started exporting rosin to Pakistan in 2013/2014. In the year, Nepal exported rosin worth Rs 1.43 billion which was Rs 100 million compared to a year ago. Rosin worth Rs 20.32 million was exported to Pakistan in the review year.
According to TEPC, rosin export increased to Rs 1.77 billion 2015/2016. TEPC official say that the export of rosin was also affected like other products in the review year to the earthquake and unofficial blockade imposed by India.
Rosin is mainly used to produce paint, paper and chemicals. There are many firms which export rosin after purifying it.
Trading of rosin started from the US in the 15th century. Indian started collecting rosin in its territory from 1896. Similarly, collection of rosin started in Nepal with the establishment of Laxmi Rosin Collection Industry. The industry used to export rosin to India without purification. In 1986, the government established Nepal Rosin and Turpentine Industry in Kailali to purify rosin.
There are many firms in Nepalgunj, Kailali, Kapilbastu and Jhapa which have been purifying rosin.
China and the US are among the leading manufacturers of turpentine oil.
Turpentine oil and raw materials worth Rs 210 million was exported in the last fiscal year. Gum, wood or sulphate turpentine oil worth Rs 240.73 million and crude sulphate turpentine oil worth Rs 256.66 million was exported during the review year, according to TEPC.
Rosin, turpentine traders facing huge loss
