BackECONOMY
Assam ships first legally approved agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia and UAE
Assam exported the first legally approved agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia (100 kg) and the UAE (12 kg) on May 13, 2026, valued at ₹2.35 crore. The export followed regulatory clearances under the Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy 2020, with the shipment flagged off at Guwahati airport. Industry officials say this could unlock significant revenue and foster a transparent, farmer-friendly export ecosystem.
Why It Matters
This milestone could transform Assam's agro-forest economy by enabling regulated exports and direct access to global buyers, potentially boosting foreign exchange earnings and farmer livelihoods.
Timeline
7 Events
Article published reporting the milestone
May 14, 2026
An article published on May 14, 2026 documented the first legal export and cited policy support and industry potential.
Projected revenue potential stated
May 13, 2026
Dr. Islam stated that the agarwood policy framework could help Assam generate up to ₹50,000 crore in revenue if cultivation, processing, and exports are scaled up in an organized manner.
Shipment details and value
May 13, 2026
The consignment comprised 100 kg of agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia and 12 kg to the UAE, valued at ₹2.35 crore.
CITES permit and DGFT export licence secured
May 13, 2026
Export was completed after obtaining a CITES permit and a restricted export licence from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Consignment dispatched from Guwahati airport
May 13, 2026
The consignment of agarwood chips was dispatched from the cargo terminal of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.
Jehirul Islam flags off the shipment
May 13, 2026
Jehirul Islam, chairman of the All Assam Agarwood Planters and Traders’ Association, flagged off the shipment from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.
Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy introduced
2020
The Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy, 2020 was introduced to legalise and regulate the cultivation, processing and export of agarwood, aiming to create a transparent, farmer-friendly ecosystem.