Global Castor Conference – February 2014, Gujarat, India

Global Castor Conference – 2014 is scheduled to be held on Saturday, 22nd February 2014 at Hotel Courtyard by Marriott, Ahmedabad, Gujarat,India. The Solvent Extractors Association of India ( SEA) is organizing this conference. The event is supported by International Castor Oil Association (ICOA), U.S.A.

This 12th International Conference will provide an unique opportunity for open discussions & exchange of views about the issues pertaining to Castor business, to find solutions to the problems faced by the manufacturers, importers & exporters, technologists, players from the commodity exchanges, brokers & dealers of
castor business all over the world.

The event will also feature a presentation on the findings of Castor Crop Survey-2013 conducted in key Castor growing States viz. Gujarat, Rajasthan & A. P. by the world renowned market survey agency, M/s AC Nielsen.

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Castor cultivation for Cambodian regional progression

Industrially vital Castor plant continues to expand its geographical horizon in Asiatic agro zones with business proposals to develop from it a stable supply chain for demands and sustainability. It can be exemplified from Cambodia where a 10 year business development plan to establishment a firm called “Adalidda Castor”, the first of its type, will be operating on integrated supply chain aspects of Castor cultivation and oil extraction etc. Project developers have indicated that the cost for establishment of firm would be US$ 16 million and initiatives include castor cultivation on 20,000 hectares of land, oil processing and contact farming with locals. This Castor project is a joint venture between a consultancy in Cambodia and a venture capital company according to sources and execution of it would be made in two phases.

It is exciting to note that “Adalidda Castor” project has provisions for crop management  by software systems and optimistic developers of the study say that benefits could be reaped through direct employment for 719 people, revenues for 20,000 households in contract farming, capacity building for farm workers and their families through education and medical facilities, apart from principal investors and other stakeholders’ advantages in the supply chain.

For reference: http://www.ongreen.com/sites/ongreen.com/files/business_plan-adalidda_castort-january_2012.pdf

 

 

 

Evolution of organic castor oil from India

Castor oil as we know a reputed raw material for industrial chemicals is often cultivated and processed in fields and oil mills respectively with synthetic inputs to make it available in bulk with desired properties. However, such pretreatments are longer a valid aspect when oil with quality and sustainability is required for certain subset of applications as production of pure natural cosmetics and related skin care products. This conditional demand faced by Wala Heilmittel GmbH, a German firm to market its completely natural skin products based of cold pressed castor oil had made it to formulate an approach of synthetic components free, organic castor oil exchange with India, involving mutual benefits for growers, processors and consumers.  Christine Ellinger, a scientific representative of the firm initiated her actions via contacts with an Indian NGO called Satvik which then functioned with team of eco-minded farmers in cultivation of crops. Her financial assistance to NGO’ advisory council and efforts of Institute of Market Ecology (IMO) certification for product quality successfully boosted up the cultivation of organic castor and the agenda of German firm reached up its peak with co-ordinated assistance from a like minded castor oil entrepreneur, Mr:Nanalal Satra in Gujarat whose dedicated processing facility for organic castor oil production yielded the German raw material of choice ultimately from India.

The face of organic oil cultivation did not wipe off with German initiatives in India but has steadily grown today to a level of 277 tons of castor beans on approximately 1,175 hectares of land with oil yields in excess to supply other prospective companies. The outcomes so far have been fruitful with social and environmental responsibilities and significantly created economic independence for farmers, especially those in Northern arid regions of Kutch who suffered a nightmare in the earthquakes of Gujarat in 2001.

For reference: http://www.wala.de/english/quality/cultivation-projects/organic-castor-oil-from-india/

 

 

Staticness in castor trade

Castor oil is an industrial commodity with India ranks first in terms of global production and export.As the oil is exclusively designed for production of a broad range of chemical derivatives and coupled with varying demands from local and international markets,its prices continue to remain in a high degree of fluctuation.In the recent past,prices of castor oil and seed saw a giant leap but brought some negative consequences indirectly from the buyers.Currently demands for the castor oil have been subdued inspite of a relatively good supply and make a stagnant position in consignment bookings which can be indicated by the castor seed prices for the June delievery which closed at Rs:4520 per quintal showing only a modest rise of Rs:29 from its previous close.

Extreme dynamics in market supply and price volatility are not positive signs of a stable economy as they do not ensure a stable partnership between business partners in a long run which is what is seen in castor trading currently to a mild extent.By introducing regulatory measures in supply chain,conditions hope to recover and display sustainable dominance from the Indian castor market.

Dynamics in Government export policies and impact on castor oil

Castor oil business is one of the powerful marks in the Indian export right from the days of  past.Current estimates account for a foreign exchange of Rs:8000 million from an export of over 200,000 tonnes of castor oil for the nation but the trend is not a constant process when a sudden depression was noticed in the castor oil export from India in 2008.The prime reason was an unexpected notification from The Ministry of Commerce,India stating a ban on the export of castor oil and other oils derived from woody tress.It was reported that the files pertaining to the export castor oil were not processed with reference to ban and ultimately made a halt in the exchange of castor goods.  The Government on the other hand declared that their decision was with the motto of welfare.It resulted in  manufacturers and traders to remain displeased over the existence of prohibition on concerned commodities.

From a mass point of view, the authouritarian’ move may sound positive and optimistic but it does not seem to hold up its credit under all the the circumstances especially with cases like castor as the entire world depends on Indian raw material for generation of industrially potent chemicals.As the responsibilities the export and import partners carrying in their business deal are something immense,they should not be denied and taken as granted by the National Government in the implementation of their emergency policies.So it is on par vital that the Government must realize and understand the commitments of entrepreneurs,traders and business personals in their legal export activities and appropriate negotiations are to be compulsorily executed in advance so as to achieve a timely regulation in export and revenue generation without severe loss for both sides.It is not alone an issue of economics but words of promise and prestige that our exporters vow upon to loyal business colleagues abroad in trading. So circumstances such as this should not arise unless otherwise an extreme condition prevails.

For reference:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/article1619902.ece

Joint entrepreneurships in Indian castor oil market

Industrial ventures and merges are in progression in castor oil business currently. As the prices and supply demand continue to surge in this oil sector,bulk manufacturers have obviously realized that it is the collaboration as a strategic tool to cope up with this dynamic trend for a successful run in production of castor oil.

Two Indian castor oil giants namely Adani Wilmar and NK Industries  from the Gujarat state have entered into an agreement for joint venture-ship in production of castor oil.As per the press release from the concerned sources,the unit functions under the name AWN Agro Ltd and commences its operation from May.The industrial partners also stated that their production capacity is 3000tonnes oil per day from the current production infrastructures.However no clear information has been presented regarding financial status of the new facility as the managing director of Adani Wilmar,Mr:Pranav Adani claimed that it is quite early to declare fact sheets. The joint proposal was even appreciated by Mr:Vittal Udeshi,Chairman of Jayant Agro Organics Ltd over the business expansion.

It is interesting to watch the business proceedings and the shifts with respect to the availability of raw materials.It seems to be condition tolerated by firms who are well rooted in their respective ventures but is a matter of concern for  new entries to achieve a sustainable stand.

For reference: http://m.economictimes.com/PDAET/articleshow/8062780.cms

Castor seed prices stay high

Castor seed and oil have now firmly been established as products of expensiveness in the industrial market.On May 17,2011 prices of castor bold seed rose by Rs:35 to reach Rs:5175 per quintal from the previous day’s close while the castor oil also showed  a marginal rise.Regarding the future price contracts for the June delievery,the prices were oscillating and stood at Rs:4900 per quintal which was also a modest rise by Rs:7 from its previous close.

Castor oil and its related products are industrially expanding to satisfy the mass demands but a price regulation is mandatory. Experts claim that a high price volatility may shift the market to chemicals which prove to have substitution potential.Hence it needs a regulatory framework for sustainable usage of this eco-friendly material.

For reference:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/groundnut-oil-strengthensrising-demand/135500/on

Change in trend of castor seed and oil prices

Castor seed and oil finally saw a drift in its market prices when castor seed bold stood at Rs:5,300 from the previous days close of Rs:5,400 per quintal.The trend was reflected in the castor oil prices as well which fell to Rs:1090 as against Rs:1110 per 10 kg.As the demand was sub-dued from soap industries and shippers, castor seed futures also declined to Rs:5070 per quintal which was about Rs:139 less from its previous close.

A control in the price of castor based commodities greatly relieves the pressure for business exchanges both India and abroad in the current day scenario as it is important to note that prices of castor seed and oil have doubled comprehensively in a brief span of six months.

For reference:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/refined-palmolein-easepoor-demand/132063/&tp=on

Fall in the prices of castor seed

The price trend of castor seed finally saw a dip when the castor seed March contract fell to US$ 114.695 from the previous close of US$ 117.595 per unit quintal in profit booking at the Rajkot Commodity Exchange. A reduction in spot castor prices has also been witnessed at RCX when the day ended at US$ 115.662 from yesterday’s close of 125.822US$.The castor seed pricing showed a similar suppression in NCDEX as well when the prices fell down to US$120.715 and 115.684 for the February and March contracts respectively.

For further reference: http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Decline-in-castor-seed-prices/3561267171