Albducros Tepelena

Albducros is the largest company, which continues higher level processing and has a more structured enterprise and consolidated trade links with Germany, France, the USA, and Japan. Currently, the company is more interested in new striking markets such as; Mexico, Turkey, India, China, Spain, Canada and so forth. In this context, Albducros is one of the few exporters who can perform higher level processing and charge higher prices for processed Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs). Likewise, Albducros remains the only company exporting most MAPs. The collection of raw material is performed through a network of 10 collectors/wholesalers, of which 7 are agents, 2 independent collectors and 1 semi-independent collector. In 2007 and 2008 the company increased its exports of sage, while in 2009 it declined due to lower production and decrease in demand. At the same time, the trend of increasing MAPs purchase prices is confirmed. Such trend is compressing the margins, as it was not possible to increase the export prices. Moreover, to remain competitive in the key US market of sage, it has been necessary to partially compensate the depreciation of the USD, reducing sales price equivalent in euro. Among the different products, common apple and dog rose are those ones whose margins are still quite rewarding.