ARTICLE TAG
Coronavirus

Over the last five years, we’ve observed multiple widespread shifts in the perception and purchasing habits behind essential oils within the US. In the years preceding COVID, the total annual import of essential oils into the US averaged around 113,000 MT (per USDA). Purchases began […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its final citrus forecast of the 2021/2022 growing season on Tuesday, July 12th.  In Florida, orange production and grapefruit production are both expected to rise by 1% when compared to previous estimations. This places orange production at 40.95 million […]

As many of you already know, labor shortages continue to impact every facet of global manufacturing, our industry included, from trucking and freight logistics down to the production of shipping labels. Upwards of 70 container ships still float off the coast of California, truck driver […]

The US cedarwood market continues to remain a challenge for producers due to a variety of factors: labor, weather, and increasing consumption trends. Cedarwood oil is derived from two main sources: Juniperus virginiana (Virginia Cedarwood) and Juniperus mexicana (Texas Cedarwood). Both species grow abundantly throughout […]

COVID-19 complications continue to plague most of Asia, causing port closures and logistical delays across the continent. Ship crews and truck drivers are now required to produce a negative COVID test before they are allowed to access certain shipping areas, which has further exacerbated the […]

As if we haven’t heard this sentiment enough lately, labor shortages of all types continue to impact every facet of the global economy, from limiting raw material collection rates to halting the international supply chain. Logistical issues regarding transportation are at the forefront of these […]

Due to a combination of harvest difficulties, environmental challenges, and increased demand from fresh fruit markets, Orange Oil prices have risen to nearly unprecedented levels over the past month. Brazil is the world’s largest producer of oranges by far, amassing over 15.6 million metric tons […]

Lemongrass is produced throughout the world, though the essential oil primarily comes from India and Guatemala. India produces the East Indian variety of lemongrass, which retains a higher citral concentration than its West Indies counterpart produced in Guatemala. As the largest producer of lemongrass in […]

A native product of the Mediterranean region, rosemary is primarily grown in three nations: Tunisia, Morocco, and Spain. The main market outlets for the rosemary crop are dried herbs, antioxidants, and essential oils. Tunisia produces around 80 MT of material per year, with Morocco following […]

Even though we’re only a few months into the year, 2021 has already presented several challenges regarding international shipping and ocean freight. The effects of Coronavirus continue to ripple throughout the global economy, with the most recent major shift being the new United States stimulus […]

Near the end of last February, the Southern US and Northern Mexico were struck by a sudden influx of extreme winter weather brought on by the annual Polar Vortex. In recent years, the Vortex has increased in both size and ferocity, distributing colder conditions throughout […]

The Basil harvesting season was especially short this year due to a combination of lockdown effects, COVID-19 complications, and a delay in the final harvest of the year. Typically, basil is harvested 3 times during the summer. The first two harvests are used exclusively for […]

Pimento products continue to face challenges throughout the Caribbean, as Jamaica faced a strenuous summer production period due to severe weather conditions and COVID-19 complications. Faced with delays throughout their primary collection months, Pimento farmers have had a late start to their oil production, and […]

As we approach Chinese New Year, international freight continues to have multiple ongoing issues, causing delays within almost every region. Many materials are facing challenges to leave ports in China, and a general lack of vessels has only compounded the problem. Freight costs remain the […]

Freight costs have been rising at accelerated rates around the world, especially for vessels shipping out of China. The complications brought on by COVID-19, combined with the new construction of modern shipping vessels equipped with larger carrying capacities, have created an overall lack of available […]