CASTOR, CASTOR, RUNNING FASTER
Article Abstract:
As the only player in the world castor oil market, India is likely to make huge profits from export of castor seed and castor oil in 1998-99. There is a shortfall in global castor seed output. The price of castor oil at Rotterdam in October 1998 was $1,490 per tonne. It is likely to increase. India's competitors - Brazil and China - have shifted to cultivation of other cash crops. So, India has become the sole supplier of castor seed and oil in the world. Gujarat in India is the largest castor seed growing State in the world with an yield of about 2,000 kg per hectare. The acreage under castor seed production increased to 4.32 lakh hectares in 1998-99. Gujarat is expected to produce 8.86 lakh tonnes of castor seed in 1998- 99. The Gujarat Government is concentrating on the production of value-added castor oil derivatives which will fetch better prices. India exported 1.49 lakh tonnes of castor oil, worth Rs445 crore, during April-November 1998. (uh/kvr)
Publication Name: Economic Times
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0389
Year: 1999
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PLASTICS: QUANTUM GROWTH
Article Abstract:
The Indian plastics industry has shown a 14 percent growth during the 1990's and recorded an output of over 2.2 million tonnes in 1997-98. The demand for polymers has been growing at 14 percent per annum, from 420 kt in 1990-91 to 2.4 million tonnes in 1997- 98, with polyolefins leading the growth of the Indian polymer industry. India exported over 130 kt of polymers in 1997-98 with PVC accounting for a major share of the exports. The demand for all types of plastic articles from all sectors of society has ensured the growth of plastic manufacturing units from 6500 units in 1979-80 to about 14,000 units now. The industry has an installed capacity of over 4.8 million tonnes with over 35,500 machines in operation as of March 1998. The number of machines is expected to grow at over 10 percent per annum between 1999 and 2001 and touch 74,200 machines by 2006-07. (khr)
Publication Name: Economic Times
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0389
Year: 1999
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