DEMAND OF SACHA INCHI IN EUROPE

SACHA INCI (Plukenetia volubilis) is native to Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. Indigenous people have been cultivating the plant for centuries, but it can also be found in the wild. However, for sustainable trade sufficient volumes are not available in the wild. The fruits of the plant are star-shaped and contain seeds. By cold-pressing these seeds you extract sacha inchi oil. The oil is a clear to dark pale yellow liquid, which contains Omega -3, Omega -6 and Omega-9 fatty acids. Sacha inchi oil is used in several cosmetic product categories, as discussed in the section on market segments. The oil is now also allowed for use in foods in Europe, such as a gourmet oil for salads. For more information on this market, see our study on sacha inchi oil for food. Consumer  need to make sure that the raw materials you buy can be verified as Plukenetia volubilis. Blog "Anim Agriculture Technology" write about the demand of Sacha Inci in Europe as reported by much research for readings.

Many new farmers in South East Asia especially in Thailand and Vietnam asks about what is the demand for sacha inchi oil in Europe. The overall European cosmetics market is fairly stable, estimated at € 74 billion (RM368.24 billion) in 2017 (Cosmetics Europe). This market grew by about 0.8% from 2015 to 2016. Europe is the largest cosmetics market in the world, followed by the United States of America, China and Japan. Because the Sacha inchi plants do not grow in Europe the buyers of the oil need to rely on imports. In 2013, the European Union approved the use of sacha inchi oil for food products. An increasing number of companies from Peru have been heavily promoting sacha inchi in Europe. Demand for the oil from the food sector has outstripped demand for cosmetics use. This will probably increase demand further, together with growing demand from the cosmetics sector.

Demand for sacha inchi is growing not just growing in Europe. There is a spike in consumer interest in both the seed and the oil in the United States and Asia as well.  Currently, Peru is still the largest exporter of sacha inchi oil.  Although production of the oil in Ecuador and Colombia is growing, their role on the international market for sacha inchi oil is still negligible.  Because of the oil’s international popularity in both food products and cosmetics, countries outside of South America have started cultivating the sacha inchi plant, most notably in Southeast Asia. Currently, the companies producing sacha inchi seeds and oil in China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, such as include Nathan Trading Co., Maï Savanh Lao and Zenda Life Foods. They are now producing sufficient volumes to start marketing the product and compete with businesses in South America, from where sacha inchi originated. Thailand is the main source of commercial cultivation of sacha inchi outside of Southern America. However, the European buyers interested in provenance prefer oil from Latin South America. Up to this point, it appears that Asian producers are mostly targeting regional markets. Moreover, there is a call for support to start a cultivation project in Myanmar, and the Agro-Ecology Learning Alliance in South East Asia is supporting a sacha inchi plantation since 2013. Malaysia eyeing to grow this crop as a new potential. Thanks...

By,

M Anim,

Senior Agronomist,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(July 2020).

Updated on July 2024.