GUWAHATI: Assam has marked a major milestone in its agro-forest economy with the first legally approved export of agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), opening new opportunities for the state’s agarwood industry in the international market.
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The consignment was dispatched from the cargo terminal of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport on Wednesday, May 13. The shipment, valued at ₹2.35 crore, included 100 kg of agarwood chips bound for Saudi Arabia and 12 kg for the UAE.
Agarwood, popularly known as Oud, is regarded as one of the world’s most valuable aromatic raw materials and is extensively used in luxury perfumes, incense, cosmetics, and traditional products, particularly across Gulf countries, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
According to a statement issued by the All Assam Agarwood Planters and Traders Association, the shipment marks the first legally approved export of agarwood chips from Assam, paving the way for greater participation of the state in the global Oud market.
Association chairman Jehirul Islam said the achievement was the result of years of research, plantation development, policy advocacy, farmer outreach, and compliance with international export standards.