途上国森林ビジネスデータベース

Copaiba balsam (mix of essential oil and resin) has a complex mix of constituents and its chemical components change depending on the soil and climate that the plants grow in. Containing sesquiterpene as a main constituent, Copaiba balsam is volatile, has low viscosity and strong aroma, and has shades between transparent yellow and brown.

Copaiba balsam is collected in the wild mainly by indigenous peoples. To collect balsam, small holes (20–50 cm deep) are dug in the lower tree trunk and balsam that exudes from them is collected. Trees with a girth of 150 cm or more are chosen for balsam collection. Because of the low distribution density of Copaiba trees, in some areas or in the past, to increase the yield of balsam, Copaiba trees are/were chopped down, or an axe was used to make a deep cut that reaches the tree core, damaging or killing the trees. However, after being extracted in appropriate ways, balsam can be harvested sustainably. The harvestable amount of balsam per tree varies from 0.1 to 60 L and is influenced by soil type and tree age. Also, not all Copaiba trees produce balsam. Search for Copaiba trees and the transportation of harvested balsam are commonly done using boats. The balsam product in Brazil fluctuates from year to year, as low river flows make harvesting and transportation difficult.

Therapeutic agent, medicinal oil, and repellant

Indigenous peoples of the Amazon have been using Copaiba oil to prevent ulcers and tetanus, as a hemostatic agent, and to treat ailments like skin and urinary diseases. It is believed that injured animals heal their wounds by licking and rubbing their body against the exuded oil. In addition to the aforementioned conditions, the colonists in the 16th Century used the oil to treat bronchitis. The oil is also said to be beneficial for inflammation of the mucous membrane and for skin cancer.

As described, Copaiba oil has long been known as a folk medicine and some research institutes have been investigating its medicinal effects. While not having reached consensus concerning the medicinal effects of Copaiba, scientists recommend the use. Garnering the wide support of consumers, Copaiba is used in skin care and hair care products for its anti-inflammation, antibacterial, and skin softening effects. It is also used in detergents, perfumes, medicinal oils, supplements, and insect repellents for its aromatic properties. Copaiba oil has also been studied as a potential substitute for an antibacterial agent in the poultry industry. In Japan, its commercialization as a medicinal oil and pest repellent is currently scheduled.

Furthermore, as remote settlements in the Amazon sometimes experience fuel shortages for motorcycles etc., Copaiba oil has been used as a substitute fuel. While its applicability as a fuel has been investigated, it has been generally agreed, based on its high price and pharmaceutical properties, that it is more suited to medicinal uses.

Copaiba is also used for wood production; wood and lumber productions in Peru in 2013 from Copaiba (Copaifera reticulate) were 57,840.12 m³ and 14,457.21 m³ (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation 2014), and 59,118.50 m³ and 18,987.82 m³ in 2015, respectively.

Trends of production and international trade

Brazil (mainly northern Brazil) is the largest producer and consumer of Copaiba oil in the world. The production started increasing in the late 1990s and was approximately 400 t/year around 2000 (actual figure is believed to be higher). Then, after rapidly surging to 538 t in 2009 and 580 t in 2010, the production has been on the decrease, although the production value per kg has increased significantly (Table 1). This production increase in around 2010 was believed to be due to the publicity of the oil’s medicinal effects. Copaiba oil is mostly harvested in small quantities and also traded in small quantities (the unit of measurement is liters) in the market. Therefore, both buyers and sellers do not keep accurate records and the volume of business is only an estimate.

While Copaiba oil is mostly consumed domestically in Brazil and surrounding countries, the main destinations for export around 1990 were the U.S., France, and Germany, with export volumes greatly varying between 50 and 100 t. This is believed to be due to the fact that the oil is generally traded in small quantities. In these countries, the oil is mainly used to produce perfumes.

Demands in Japan

In Japan, the oil harvested from Copaiba trees naturally grown or cultivated in Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador is sold in products like medicinal oils, soaps, therapeutic tooth pastes, and room mists. For these products, information on the source trees and producers are available on distributors’ websites and these products are commonly marketed as fair-trade or natural products. Also, because of its repelling effect on pests (e.g., flies, midges, mosquitoes, mites, ants, and cockroaches), the oil has been used to produce repellents, products (smoking, transpiration, solid, and spray types) that have applications such as coating the surface of food packaging paper boxes and impregnating under-door brushes at food and pharmaceutical plants to prevent pests from entering.

Against the backdrop of Japan’s humid climate and high personal hygiene, the scale of the country’s insecticide market is approximately 100 billion yen, more than 10% of the world’s insecticide market. In recent years, repellents that keep away insects using ingredients that repel, rather than kill, insects have been developed. Repellents, garnering support from people who are concerned about insecticides’ effect on human health and are not comfortable with contact with insects, have enjoyed production growth since the mid-2000s. Repellents that are applied to the human body, in particular, became a 4-billion-yen market in the mid-2000s, quickly approaching a 10-billion-yen industry in recent years. In the future, technological developments, including those for improved safety, are expected to advance and the possibility of using plant-based essential oils, such as Copaiba, citronella, cedar, eucalyptus and peppermint, has attracted attention.

Challenges and prospects surrounding commercialization

To improve the harvesting efficiency of oil from naturally grown Copaiba trees, the following challenges need to be overcome: great distances to the trees and thus, great distances for transporting oil; and the low productivity of manual labor and the need to give harvesters sufficient compensation.

There are cases where harvesters have formed a union and, with the support of local governments and NGOs, are increasing flexibility in setting prices and sales conditions. However, buyers point out issues such as the need to improve oil quality and ensure a stable, reliable supply. As for support by NGOs, SOS Amazonia has promoted the commercialization of Copaiba oil by local people with the aim of reducing fire use and logging in nature reserves in Acre, Brazil.

On the other hand, in Para, Brazil, cultivation of Copaiba by local people has been attempted with the support of Institute Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia (INPA). However, little is known about the growth conditions and ideal soil types for Copaiba and future investigation is necessary.