KARACHI: The imports of cosmetic concentrates exceeded to 20 percent while industrial imports rose around 25 percent during January-April 2018 against same period last period, importers and traders said.
Because soap and detergents makers continued launching new household products while a number of domestic perfumer makers introduced variety of products in country for all and sundries, an importer Javed Khan said.
Lahore is the main centre for imports of scent concentrates used for cosmetic and industrial purposes. The country imports around $393 million concentrates annually.
Manufacturers of branded toilet and washing soaps, detergents etc import scent concentrates, generally known as soap compounds, according to their manufacturing capacity mainly from France and Switzerland and also from Germany but in a limited quantity, importers and wholesalers said.
Some 45 percent imports of concentrates are made from France and around 30 percent from Switzerland. The remaining imports of concentrates are made from Germany.
In 2017 the imports of cosmetic concentrates exceeded to 10 percent while industrial imports rose roughly to 25 percent against same period in 2016, because consumption rose for new soap and detergents products by makers.
Toilet soaps and washing detergents, as a matter of fact, are daily consumable items while perfumery is not used in a big way.
Wholesalers do not have to worry as they meet their requirements through auction of lots offer by toilet soap and washing detergents manufacturers from time to time in open market after fulfilling their own needs.
Every detergent, washing soap and toilet soap is made with a number of fragrances to attract more and more users. The big manufacturers attract customers with fresh and new ideas through advertisements on print and electronic media.
Wholesalers in Bottle Gali Market, main hub of wholesalers and retail outlets of concentrated and dilute perfumes said since they are un-organised industrial sector imports cosmetic concentrates according limit mentioned in their licences.
“We mainly meet our requirements from main importers like SMC in Lahore,” a wholesaler said. However, we also meet our requirements from lots marketed by industrial sector, he said.
Perfumes made at local level are available on cheap rates to all and sundries who can afford these products on all occasion, he added.
Demand of local small perfume makers: The wholesalers said use of perfume concentrates in production of body lotion, body sprays, body mist, different kinds of fragrance, toilet waters, colognes, after-shave lotions, soaps, detergents and vanishing and cold creams is also increasing day by day.
Irfan Ali, a wholesaler said during last three years, he noticed despite increase in cost of living, small perfumery makers were still catering to fragrance and cosmetics needs of a large number people.
They said market also caters to requirements of small producers of perfumery in other parts of Sindh. “Customers from Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana and other provinces, including Quetta, also visit us, they said.
A Ghani, a wholesaler said that usually concentrates are imported in aluminium and plastic containers. “We buy concentrates in sealed aluminium bottles of 500 ml to two litre capacity,” he said.
“We do not purchase expensive material in large quantity as medium quality product is in demand.”
The perfumers of traditional “Ittar” also purchase these concentrates and use them in making their tradition products.
Ghani said he prepares traditional ittar with these concentrates after diluting them according to his specifications.
Published in Daily Times, June 3rd 2018.