US report may lift India’s marigold extract exports

KOCHI: India may regain its dominance in marigold extract export thanks to the findings of a US-based health institution. Marigold extracts are used extensively worldwide in poultry feed to give colour to egg yolks and in nutraceutical sector for eye care.

India was the leading exporter of marigold extracts in the world till China started selling aggressively at low cost some years ago. Now while China’s dominance in feed grade marigold extract, which accounts for a majority of the global production, is well established, India still retains the edge in food grade stuff for the nutraceutical sector.




India’s marigold exports are to the tune of around Rs 220 crore with AVT Natural Products accounting for 70 per cent of it. The recent survey recommendation by the US government institution National Eye Institute that carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin can reduce the risk of advanced macular degeneration affecting the eye, augurs well for India. Both these products are present in marigold extracts.

"The growth in marigold extract exports for nutraceutical sector has been flat in recent years. But now with these findings, we expect double-digit growth in exports," said MSA Kumar, managing director of AVT Natural Products.


The company has a tie-up with Kemin Industries in the US. Kemin has branded lutein and zeaxanthin products in the market. The nutraceutical sector involves strict quality standards and intellectual property rights and it is because of this that India has an advantage as there is no mass production involved. “We sell in the form of lutein extracted from marigold to our sister concern OmniActive Health Technologies which have patented products of lutein," said Geemon Korah, managing director of Kancor Ingredients.

Most of the production of marigold extracts in China go towards poultry feed. “The favourable climatic conditions and liberal subsidies by the government have worked to the advantage of the country which has been able to supply the product cheaply at around 8 cents per gram against 13-14 cents by us," said MSA Kumar.


The industry feels that government should support the industry as marigold extracts have good potential. “Our government provides 5 per cent subsidy which may not be sufficient has our cost of production itself is around 14 cents. As a result we are left with large inventory of marigold extracts," said Dr Viju Jacob, deputy managing director of Synthite.