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Ceylon cinnamon with ‘Born in SL’ tag promoted in Melbourne

16 Dec 2021

“Born in Sri Lanka – Ceylon Cinnamon” was the title of a virtual event conducted last week in Melbourne, Australia, with the participation of a panel of experts and businessmen in the field, for the promotion of Ceylon cinnamon in the Australian States of Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. The purpose of the event was to reinvigorate market enthusiasm for Ceylon cinnamon in Australia by bringing forth new information on various export products of Ceylon cinnamon manufactured in Sri Lanka, along with the process of their export to Australia, with special focus on Australian regulations and market dynamics. It was noted that Sri Lanka, as the largest producer and exporter of “true cinnamon” to the world, claiming a place for more than 80% of the world’s cinnamon production, has earned 56% of the total earnings of $ 335 million from spices in 2020 solely from cinnamon. The current cinnamon production capacity of 21,000 metric tonnes (MT), with an export quantity of 19,000 MT, has the potential for expansion, up to 25,000-30,000 MT a year. The nation branding of Sri Lankan spices, with a focus on cinnamon, provides a significant impetus in this direction. Cassia, which is inferior in quality and is produced by other countries, has become the major competitor for Ceylon cinnamon in the international market. Presentations were made by Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) Assistant Director Inoka Wanasinghe and HDDES Group General Manager Sumith Ponnamperuma, while Consul General of Sri Lanka to Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania Kapila Fonseka and EDB Director of Market Development Anoma Premathilaka delivered the opening remarks. It was revealed that only a quarter of cinnamon consumption in Australia is from Ceylon cinnamon, and that there is a tremendous potential of growth for Ceylon cinnamon in the Australian market. Speaking about the Australian standards and regulatory requirements, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry International Business Development Manager Eddie Zhao explained Australia’s strict biosecurity rules. He stated that some products may be subjected to import conditions or require the submission of supporting documentation to relevant Australian authorities, while some may even require import permits (the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water, and Environment, which is the responsible authority in this regard, can be reached through its at website www.awe.gov.au). Citro Essential Oils Australia Proprietor Upul Kularatne briefed the audience on his personal experience in importing cinnamon products from Sri Lanka to Australia. He advised potential new importers and exporters to obtain consultations from Customs clearance agents in Australia and to further their knowledge on the Australian biosecurity requirements prior to commencing trading with Australia. Importers in Australia, exporters in Sri Lanka, members of the Consular Corps, and the Sri Lankan media fraternity participated in the webinar, which was jointly organised by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne and the EDB, in collaboration with the Australia-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and the Australia-Sri Lanka Business Council.


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