Sticklac, graded on resin content before it leaves the yard.
Raw lac resin as scraped from the host twig, before seedlac and shellac processing. We supply lac processors and shellac refiners, with resin content, wax, moisture and insolubles stated on the offer rather than discovered on arrival.
What we sell against
How the lots are separated
Kusmi
From Ziziphus and Schleichera hosts. Lighter colour, higher resin yield, and priced above Rangeeni.
Rangeeni
From Butea and Ficus hosts. Darker, and the grade that moves in volume.
Crop lots
Baisakhi, Katki, Kusmi and Jethwi crops differ in colour and yield. Lots are kept separate where a buyer specifies a crop.
Who buys it, and for what
Getting it into a container
Figures marked [TBC] are drafted proposals awaiting confirmation from the trading desk.
Sticklac — questions buyers ask
Answers from the trading desk. If yours is not here, put it in the enquiry and it will be answered in the reply.
Give us three figures: minimum resin content, maximum wax and maximum insolubles. Most shellac refiners work to that set. We then offer only lots that clear all three, or tell you plainly that we cannot hold them on the crop currently available. Guaranteed parameters go into the contract separately from typical lot averages.
Yes. Kusmi comes off Ziziphus and Schleichera hosts and runs lighter in colour with a higher resin yield, so it prices above Rangeeni. Mixed lots are cheaper. We quote both ways and let you decide which economics suit your refining process.
Bags are stacked clear of the container walls, with desiccant added where the voyage crosses the monsoon. Loading moisture is recorded on the certificate of analysis, so you have a reference figure if arrival moisture is disputed. Lac blocks if stored warm, so containers are not left standing in the sun before loading.
One pallet for a trial lot, or 5 MT for contract business. A 20ft container takes about 16 MT and a 40ft about 24 MT in 50 kg PP bags. Most new buyers take a trial pallet, run it through their process, then move to container volumes.
Standard terms are a 30% T/T deposit with the balance against documents, or an irrevocable letter of credit at sight for container volumes. Payment milestones are tied to specific documents in the contract, so you know which papers must be issued before the balance falls due. [TBC]
Tell us the resin content and the port.
We reply with an indicative price, a packing plan and container fill, and what we can send as a sample.