Assam exports first consignment of agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia, UAE

Assam exported its first legally approved consignment of agarwood chips, valued at ₹2.35 crore, to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The shipment — ...

What Happened

Assam exported its first legally approved consignment of agarwood chips, valued at ₹2.35 crore, to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The shipment — 100 kg to Saudi Arabia and 12 kg to the UAE — was dispatched from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, on 14 May 2026.
The consignment was cleared after securing all statutory permissions under India's wildlife protection laws and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations.
This export is the culmination of years of research, policy advocacy, farmer engagement, plantation development, and international compliance efforts, representing a significant milestone for the Northeast's agro-forest economy.

Static Topic Bridges

Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) — Species Profile and Legal Status

Agarwood, derived from the Aquilaria genus of trees (principally Aquilaria malaccensis), is one of the world's most prized aromatic raw materials. Also known as Oud in Arab and Persian traditions, it is used in luxury perfumes, incense, cosmetics, and traditional medicines, commanding prices of up to USD 100,000 per kilogram for high-grade resin.

Agarwood is produced when Aquilaria trees are infected by a specific mould (Phialophora parasitica), triggering a defence response that produces the dense, resin-saturated heartwood.
Aquilaria malaccensis is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
In India, it is listed under Schedule VI of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, providing the highest degree of protection for plant species (prohibiting cultivation, trade, possession, and extraction without central government permission).
Internationally, it is listed in Appendix II of CITES (since 1995) — the first agarwood species to be so listed. Appendix II listing means trade is permitted but regulated through export permits issued after Non-Detriment Findings (NDF).
In 2023, CITES relaxed export restrictions for cultivated (plantation-grown) agarwood in India, recognising the distinction between wild extraction (prohibited) and plantation cultivation (regulated). This regulatory shift enabled the first legal export.

Connection to this news: The Assam export is significant precisely because it is the first consignment to clear both Schedule VI clearances and CITES Appendix II permit requirements — proving that legal, plantation-based agarwood trade from India is commercially viable.

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 — Schedule VI

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is India's principal legislation for protecting fauna and flora. Schedule VI is specifically dedicated to plant species, listing those that cannot be cultivated, possessed, sold, or exported without central government permission.

Schedule VI was added to the WPA through the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002.
Plants listed include: Beddomes' cycad (Cycas beddomei), Blue Vanda (Vanda soerulca), Kuth (Saussurea lappa), Ladies' slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum spp.), Pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana), and Red Vanda (Renanthera imschootiana), and Aquilaria malaccensis (agarwood).
Commercial cultivation of Schedule VI plants with a government licence is permitted — creating a legal pathway for plantation-based trade.
The Act is administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

Connection to this news: The statutory clearances obtained for the Assam export specifically relate to Schedule VI of the WPA 1972 — demonstrating that plantation-grown agarwood, with proper licensing, can re-enter global trade legally.

CITES and International Trade Regulation

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement — not a binding treaty — entered into voluntarily by nations to regulate cross-border trade in wildlife and plants. India acceded to CITES in 1976.

Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction; commercial trade prohibited (e.g., tigers, elephants).
Appendix II: Species not necessarily threatened but whose trade must be controlled to avoid future endangerment; export requires a permit based on a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) by the exporting country's Scientific Authority.
Appendix III: Species protected in at least one country that needs international cooperation to control trade.
India's CITES Management Authority is the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for plants; the Scientific Authority is the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
Agarwood's CITES Appendix II listing (1995) applies to all Aquilaria and Gyrinops species.

Connection to this news: The Assam export had to pass through India's CITES Management Authority (DGFT) and required a Non-Detriment Finding from BSI confirming the trade would not harm wild populations — a procedural breakthrough for the Northeast's agarwood industry.

Northeast India's Agro-Forest Economy and Policy Context

Assam and the Northeast are the primary cultivation zone for agarwood in India. An estimated 300,000 farmers across Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya cultivate Aquilaria trees in agroforestry and plantation systems.

Two cultivated variants are prominent in Assam: "Bhola sanchi" (faster growing, lower yield) and "Jati sanchi" (slower growing, higher resin yield).
Northeast India falls under the government's Act East Policy, which seeks to strengthen economic and cultural ties with Southeast Asian and Gulf nations — markets that are the primary consumers of agarwood.
The NITI Aayog's North-East vision documents have identified agroforestry exports (including bamboo, large cardamom, and agarwood) as high-potential revenue streams for the region.
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, serves as the primary export gateway for Northeast India's agri and agro-forest produce.

Connection to this news: The export aligns directly with Act East Policy objectives and NITI Aayog's Northeast development framework — demonstrating how policy-level commitments translate into tangible export milestones.

Key Facts & Data

Export value: ₹2.35 crore (first legally approved consignment).
Quantity: 112 kg total — 100 kg to Saudi Arabia, 12 kg to UAE.
Dispatch point: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, 14 May 2026.
Species: Aquilaria malaccensis (agarwood / Oud).
IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
India's legal protection: Schedule VI, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
International regulation: CITES Appendix II (since 1995) — regulated trade with Non-Detriment Finding required.
CITES 2023 update: Relaxation of export restrictions for plantation-grown (cultivated) agarwood in India.
Farmer base: ~300,000 farmers in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya engaged in agarwood cultivation.
Key policy frameworks: Act East Policy, NITI Aayog North-East development plans.
India's CITES Management Authority (plants): DGFT; Scientific Authority: Botanical Survey of India (BSI).