Government Approves Guwahati Airport as Export Point for Agarwood Oil and Chips

The central government has permitted the export of agarwood oil and chips from the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, according to an official notification.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated in its notification that the export of agarwood oil, agarwood chips, and allied products is now permitted from the Guwahati airport, subject to all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Agarwood is a rare fragrant wood that forms inside specific Asian evergreen trees. To protect itself, the tree produces a dark, thick resin that converts the wood into a heavily scented dark heartwood. Assam is widely recognized as the primary agarwood hub of the country.

The chips are traditionally burned as incense, while the extracted oil finds application in luxury perfumery, cosmetics, and traditional medicine. Globally, the Middle East serves as the dominant market for agarwood, alongside other key destination markets including Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and European nations.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal noted on social media that the approval was granted following a request from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He described the decision as a significant logistical development for Assam and the wider Northeast region, bringing potential international markets closer to local producers.

Local stakeholders, including farmers, producers, and exporters of agarwood products, are expected to benefit from the direct export approval at the Guwahati airport, reducing prior logistical complexities associated with shipping these specialized commodities.

"Enabling direct exports of specialized regional products like agarwood from local airports is a positive step for trade infrastructure in Northeast India. By streamlining logistics, local farmers and producers gain direct access to international markets like the Middle East, which can significantly improve supply chain efficiency and reduce transit overheads for regional businesses." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes