Asia Plantation Capital Patchouli Oil Achieves Premium Grade

SINGAPORE, July 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Plantation Capital has been developing sustainable, organic, Patchouli oil production on its plantations for the last year. Patchouli oil is extracted from the leaves of the perennial patchouli bush (which regrows) allowing the leaves to be harvested, sustainably, every 3 to 4 months.

The recent harvest and production of Patchouli oil, by Asia Plantation Capital, on its plantations in Sri Lanka has been certified as premium grade by independent analysts at the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Colombo.

When analysed via mass spectrometry by the ITI, samples of our oil tested positive for the major compounds of Patchouli oil.

Of these compounds, Patchouli alcohol is the main constituent which determines the quality of the oil. Consequently, the price of the Patchouli oil strongly depends on the ratio of Patchouli alcohol present in the oil.

Spectrometry results clearly indicate the high content of patchouli oil (0.53%) and patchouli alcohol (54.56%) in the oil sample which was taken after the distillation process. A patchouli alcohol content of over 30% is considered excellent quality.

These results show that the cultivation of patchouli for commercial oil extraction in Sri Lanka is a viable proposition.

This is a significant breakthrough for Asia Plantation Capital in Sri Lanka. We already cultivate Patchouli in Thailand and are now gearing up to follow our success in the production of high quality Oud oil with large scale production of Patchouli; for Sri Lanka, this can be particularly beneficial as it can create a new, high quality crop to boost exports and the rural economy.

Lalith Ganlath, Attorney for Asia Plantation Capital in Colombo, says, "It's a pleasure to see the hard work of the Sri Lankan, Asia Plantation Capital team paying off in Sri Lanka, on the back of plantation projects which the Company operates in other parts of South East Asia, and helping to contribute research and innovation to the country's agricultural export markets. I am very keen to help promote this project and encourage out-growers to cultivate the Patchouli, which can become part of their existing agroforestry incomes. It will also help maximise land use and returns for rural farmers, with Asia Plantation Capital agreeing to buy back the dry leaves which can be harvested every 3 months."

Asia Plantation Capital already has its own distribution offices, retail shops and warehouses in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the USA, supplying the industry. It is well set to become a major supplier of sustainable Patchouli oil, traceable to the source of production -- Patchouli oil is one of the most widely used oils in the international Fragrance industry and has a forecast industry value of over $46 billion in 2018 (Source: Industry Analyst's Inc.). Interestingly, Patchouli oil is one of the few natural essential oils which cannot be reproduced in any high quality, synthetically, for use in perfumes; making the demand for this excellent oil relatively assured.

Over the next year, the Company aims to establish over 5,000 acres of Patchouli fields using a combination of their own lands in South East Asia and out grower schemes in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia. All production for the plantations will be supplied with Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Analysis (CofA), Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for exports and Flow of Processing and Product Specification. In addition, the oil will be packaged under the Group's perfume brand, "Fragrance Du Bois" and branded, "Patchouli Du Bois" as a further stamp of guaranteed quality -- which has been a key to the success in globally marketing the Company's other essential oils such as Oud (agarwood) and also infected wood chips.

Media Contact:

Asia Plantation Capital Pte. Ltd. 50 Collyer Quay, #06-05 OUE Bayfront, Singapore 049321
Tel: +65 6222 3386 | Fax: +65 6221 2197 | Email: pr@asiaplantationcapital.com

Notes to Editors:

About Asia Plantation Capital

Asia Plantation Capital is an owner and operator of a diverse range of commercial plantation and farming businesses across the Asia-Pacific region; globally, it is part of the Asia Plantation Capital Group of associated companies. Their focus is on multicultural and diverse plantation projects which are geared to the domestic and commercial demands of the countries in which they operate. Working closely with and supporting local communities is an underlying, core principle of the APC business. It provides social and cultural support - as well as investment - to move these communities away from deforestation and illegal logging activities (previously seen as a main source of income in some regions of Asia). Established officially in 2008 (although operating privately since 2002) the group now has plantation and agricultural projects on four continents, with operational projects at various stages in Thailand, Malaysia, China, Laos, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, The Gambia, North America and Europe.

Promoting the use of certified wood is the best way of preventing deforestation, protecting biodiversity and combatting poverty in the tropical rainforest regions. For the yachting sector, which strives for excellence and which is already involved in environmental efforts, this is also a way of ensuring that no wood from illegal logging is used.