
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 29, 1990                   TAG: 9005260320
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

AROMATIC OIL EXPORTS PEAK

Exports of essential oils - the kind that smell and taste good - rose to an all-time high last year, says the Agriculture Department.

Last year's exports of essential oils reached nearly $144 million - a 17 percent increase over a year earlier and well above 1987 exports of $114 million, according to an annual report.

Essential oils are obtained from natural raw materials by distillation or through a mechanical pressing process. The oils are widely used in perfumes, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, and to flavor food and soft drinks.

"As income levels in foreign countries increase, certainly the markets there will have an increase of these export items," says Rex Dull of the department's Horticultural and Tropical Products Division.

"Countries are utilizing more of them in their confectionary products, and markets for them are growing rapidly in these countries."

In fact, exports of peppermint oils increased by 22 percent to 1,510 tons, with Japan replacing the United Kingdom as this countries largest export market for these oils. U.S. exports of orange oil were up 61 percent, nearly doubling in value to $10.2 million.

Lemon exports also doubled year-earlier levels, largely reflecting increased sales to Japan and the United Kingdom.

by CNB