Purulia, West Bengal

Lac / Shellac (Brood Lac)

Raw resin (stick/brood lac) harvested from lac-insect colonies on host trees, the basis of seedlac, shellac sheets and button lac products. Cultivation of lac is listed among the main agricultural products of Purulia, and shellac manufacture is named among the district's major industries. Suppliers, farmer co-ops and shellac factories cluster around Balarampur, Jhalda, Baghmundi and Purulia town, where quality brood lac trades at roughly Rs 180-220 per kg, and the region's 'Manbhum Lac' brand is promoted for export to global markets. Buyers can purchase raw brood lac, cleaned seedlac, or processed shellac sheets (chapra) directly from local units.

Typical price: ₹180-220 per kg (raw brood lac); seedlac and shellac sheets priced by grade and quantity

Buying tip: Negotiate directly with farmer collectives or the lac factories around Balarampur rather than middlemen, and inspect brood lac for purity (clean stick lac with less bark and debris) before buying by the kilo. For processed shellac, ask for seedlac/shellac grade and test sheet clarity before bulk purchase.