Essential Oils of Tasmania targets expansion into China

Specialised crops of lavender, native pepper and boronia being grown in pockets across the state are key to Essential Oils of Tasmania realising its goal to crack the Chinese market.

Essential Oils of Tasmania agricultural scientist, Oscar Giudici, among the lavender field at Margate. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

HAVING forged a strong customer base in the US and Europe, Essential Oils of Tasmania is now looking to Asia aiming to crack the potentially lucrative Chinese market.

Essential Oils, based at Margate and with a network of suppliers on farms across Tasmania, hosted representatives of several Chinese companies through 2019.

Company CEO Simon Wells said early talks had been encouraging.

“The Chinese companies we have engaged with understand there is no better place in the world to produce natural plant extracts than Tasmania. But we also understand aromatic oils and plant extracts have been an important part of Chinese culture for thousands of years, so we have much to learn from our new relationship as well,” Mr Wells said.

“China is a critical component of our future growth aspirations.

“We know what we produce as a company resonates with many Chinese consumers seeking high-quality, natural products for personal care and for use in their home.”

Essential Oils of Tasmania produces and sells a range of oils and natural extracts used in fragrances, flavours, nutraceuticals, aromatherapy and beauty products.

Peppermint, fennel and parsley crops are grown in the Midlands and the North-East.

Boronia Flowers, grown in Tasmania, for Essential Oils of Tasmania.

Smaller, more specialised crops of lavender, native pepper and boronia are grown in selected pockets of the state, while Tasmanian essential oils such as kunzea and southern rosalina are sourced from remote coastal areas and from Flinders Island.

“We know some of our really unique Tasmanian oils and extracts, including our boronia, Tasmanian native pepper and kunzea have really unique appeal in China,” Mr Wells said.

“We have received tremendous feedback on the quality of our Tasmanian peppermint and lavender oils and we are already selling Tasmanian parsley oil in to China, which has oral care and gut health benefits.”

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Mr Wells said China was a crowded market, so it was important to value add to natural products and to leverage off Tasmania’s reputation of a clean environment.

Essential Oils of Tasmania was named Tasmanian Exporter of the Year in 2019.

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