In fact, camphor was first exported early in the Qing Dynasty, though volume remained small, and it was mainly used as an herbal medicine or medicinal ingredient. It was only in 1880, with the discovery that camphor could be used as raw material for celluloid, that large amounts were exported.
清代開始出口樟腦，初期銷量不多，多做為藥用或製藥原料，直到一八八○年西方人發現樟腦可以做為賽璐珞的原料，才打開大量外銷市場。