Hyderabad: The shortfall of the camphor crop in China and Indonesia has led to the price of camphor used for pujas rising. Medicinal camphor (green camphor) is also used in teertha and prasada being offered to gods in temples.
India imports an average of 1,000 tonnes of raw camphor from China and Indonesia, which has fallen by 20 per cent due to the crop shortfall. Raw camphor is processed at three units in India and the processed camphor for puja (quality-2) and medicinal (pure) is sent across the country.
According to estimates, Hyderabad uses 10 tonnes of puja camphor per month and pharma companies in the city import processed camphor based on demand.
Till the end of March, the price of puja camphor was Rs 300 per kg with wholesalers and Rs 500 per kg at retailers. Due to short supply, the price rose to Rs 480 with wholesalers and Rs 1,000 at retailers.
Mr P. Nayanakar, proprietor of Swastik Cam-phor in Sheikpet, said the price had gone up by 50 per cent, compared to the same season earlier. “As per the season, the price should be between Rs 300 and Rs 330 per kg. We are expecting the price to come down by Septe-mber as the new crop comes to its yield in China and Indonesia. But the GST may lead to slight increase in price as the present tax on camphor is only five per cent whereas it will attract 18 per cent under the GST,,” he said.
Mr Khailash Agarwal, owner of Balaji Provision Store in Amberpet, said camphor had become costlier over the last two months. “We used to sell 50 grams of camphor in a box at Rs 30 and now it is Rs 55. Even loose camphor is not available for less than Rs 10,” he said.
Mr M.A. Rasheed, a Unani medical shop owner at Nimboliadda, said the medicinal camphor prices had increased by 50 per cent.
“Earlier we used to get green camphor at Rs 500 per kg and now it has risen to Rs 1,000. The cost of auxiliary products of camphor has also increased by 50 per cent,” he said.
