Romance smells success

Tuesday, 23 November, 1999 - 21:00
WORLD demand remains high and market penetration is assured for sandalwood oils and its value-added products says Mt Romance managing director Stephen Birkbeck.

His sandalwood oil, perfumes, cosmetics and aromatherapy producing company is currently negotiating an alliance with a European-based international perfume group.

The alliance will guarantee Mt Romance, rated as the world’s largest sandalwood supplier, a large market.

WA currently exports more than $10 million worth of sandalwood each year.

The sandalwood market was once controlled by companies in India and East Timor.

Now a world shortage of sandalwood has left the door open for WA to expand its exports.

“We’ve got the demand but we don’t want to run too quickly,” Mr Birkbeck said.

The company wants to establish quality control and assurance in its production systems first.