What is driving the recent price uptick for camphor in Chinese herbal markets?

What is driving the recent price uptick for camphor in Chinese herbal markets?
Chinese herbal market reports show camphor prices firming, with natural camphor quoted at CNY 38-50 per kg and synthetic at CNY 45-55 per kg, depending on the reporting period. The upward pressure stems from steady demand growth in downstream sectors—pharmaceuticals, daily chemicals, and industrial uses—while sellers adopt a bullish stance, holding back inventory. Market participants note brisk small-lot transactions, reflecting genuine offtake rather than speculative hoarding. Supply-side constraints are also visible: environmental enforcement has shuttered several synthetic camphor producers since 2017, leaving Qing Song (Qingsong) as the dominant player with roughly 79% of effective domestic capacity. This consolidation gives producers pricing power, supporting the recent price firmness.