February 2025
The February 2025 market report highlights the current conditions for several prominent essential and carrier oils, reflecting both opportunities and potential challenges in sourcing the raw materials. This month, Lemon Organic Essential Oil continues to show steady market demand despite a lower processed volume, while Fennel Sweet Essential Oil maintains reliable performance with stable crop sizes and a robust supply. Remaining strong on the market, Lemon (Sicily) Essential Oil is currently benefitting from increased raw material volume, though it faces a slight yield decrease due to evolving climate conditions. As the two featured carrier oils of the month, the conventional and organic varieties of Jojoba Oil have both seen significant increases in raw material volume and continue to deliver consistent yields, ensuring a strong and stable supply overall.
Continue reading to stay informed on the latest industry trends from the experts at New Directions Aromatics.
The organic variety of Lemon Essential Oil is cold pressed from the Citrus limonum fruit grown in Argentina. Harvested as a single cycle between March and June, Citrus limonum thrives in sub-tropical climate and fertile soils. This year’s crop has produced a lower volume—3 metric tons in 2024 compared to 5 metric tons in 2023—although the weather conditions remained normal. With the steady demand and bulk pricing available for Lemon Organic Essential Oil year-round, the current market conditions indicate stable availability and pricing, with no shortages anticipated in the coming quarter.
Fennel Sweet Essential Oil is steam distilled from the Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce seeds grown in Hungary. Fennel seeds are harvested during a single cycle from September to November and require consistent warmth during the maturing process. Grown best in sandy clay or clay soils, this year’s crop has maintained the same volume as last year due to favorable weather conditions that supported both quality and quantity. Market conditions and demand for Sweet Fennel Oil remain robust and stable with no expected shortages. Bulk orders are best discussed immediately post-harvest since there are already active contracts in place from the end of last year.
Our Lemon Essential Oil is cold pressed from the Citrus limon (L) burm.f. fruit grown in Italy’s Sicily-Calabria region. Undergoing three harvest cycles between the end of November through April, the Sicilian lemon trees thrive in slightly acidic soils during mild winters and summers where temperatures generally remain below 40° (with few exceptions). Regular irrigation is also necessary for optimal crop yield.
Although the 2025 crop size has increased by approximately 100 MT (around 20% more than the 2024 crop), climate shifts have become unpredictable, moving from a Mediterranean to a more sub-tropical pattern. This has led to a slight decrease in yield per kilogram (from 0.40% last year to 0.33% this year). The market conditions for Lemon Sicily Essential Oil continue to support a steady supply with no forecasted shortages. We recommend placing bulk pricing inquiries in January after harvest has begun.
Jojoba Carrier Oil is cold pressed from the Simmondsia chinensis seeds grown in the deserts of Israel. Harvested as a single autumn cycle, the Simmondsia chinensis is a resilient crop that grows best on sandy soils under dry weather conditions. This year’s harvest has seen a 25% increase in raw material compared to last year, although the yield remains consistent. While the crop is generally favorable, cold winter spells could pose a potential challenge. Nevertheless, the market demand for Jojoba Carrier Oil remains stable, with bulk orders starting in October and no indications of shortages in the upcoming quarter.
Also sourced from the desert regions of Israel, our Jojoba Organic Carrier Oil is cold pressed from organically grown Simmondsia chinensis seeds. Harvested once in autumn from sandy soils and thriving in dry weather, this crop has similarly enjoyed a 25% increase in raw material volume compared to the previous year, while maintaining last year’s yield levels. Despite potential challenges from increased cold spells in winter, market conditions remain strong and reliable for Organic Jojoba Oil. No shortages are anticipated, and bulk orders are available from October onward.