Agarwood
Agarwood is the dark resinous heartwood that forms inside trees of the genus Aquilaria and the related genus Gyrinops when the living wood is wounded or infected and the tree floods the injured tissue with a defensive resin. Uninfected wood of the same tree is pale, light and of no value; the traded material is only the resin saturated portion, cut out of the trunk and cleaned by hand. It moves in three commercial forms: solid chips and blocks burned as incense, powder and dust used in incense sticks and compounded products, and the distilled essential oil known as oud, which is one of the most concentrated raw materials in perfumery. Demand comes from the incense trade of the Gulf, East Asia and South Asia, from religious and ceremonial use in Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Shinto practice, from traditional medicine, and from fine fragrance houses buying oud as a perfume base. All internationally traded Aquilaria and Gyrinops material is listed on Appendix II of CITES, and both wild harvested and plantation grown material require export permits.
Listed agarwood markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Agarwood is bought on species, on the form of the material, and above all on resin content, because resin is the only thing being paid for. Every parameter below names how it is judged, and no parameter is a score. Because plantation induced material and wild material behave differently on the burner and in the still, the origin of the resin formation is declared rather than implied, and the CITES permit position is settled before any cargo commits.
Species, form and identification
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Botanical speciesDeclared by botanical name, verified by wood anatomy or by DNA barcoding where the contract requires it | Aquilaria malaccensis, Aquilaria crassna, Aquilaria sinensis, Aquilaria subintegra, Aquilaria filaria and Gyrinops species are all traded. The species is named because it governs both the permit treatment and the character of the resin. |
| Resin formationDeclared, as naturally infected, or as induced by inoculation on a plantation | Natural formation follows wounding and fungal colonisation over many years. Induced formation follows a deliberate inoculation of a planted tree. Both are lawful and both are traded, and the buyer is told which one the parcel is. |
| FormDeclared, as chip, block, sliver, sawdust, powder, or distilled oil | Chips and blocks are sold by piece and weight, powder and dust by weight, and oil by weight or volume with a specified still and charge. |
| Wood partDeclared, as trunk heartwood, branch, root, or stump | Trunk heartwood, branch wood, root and stump material carry different resin distributions and are kept separate rather than blended in the sale. |
| Cleaning methodDeclared, as hand carved, machine cleaned, or uncleaned | Hand carving removes pale wood with a knife and leaves the resin intact. Machine cleaning is faster and removes more of the surrounding wood. Uncleaned material carries the pale wood still attached and is priced on the recoverable fraction. |
| Adulteration statusDeclared as unadulterated, and verified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry where the contract requires it | Chips are checked for infused resin, dyes, weighting agents and applied oil. Oil is checked for dilution with carrier oil, synthetic aroma chemicals or oil distilled from another species. |
| Oil distillation basisDeclared, as hydro distillation, steam distillation, or solvent extraction, with the charge material named | The oil carries the character of the charge and of the method, so the still type, the soak period and the charge species are all part of the description rather than trade practice left unstated. |
Grading and appearance
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Resin contentAssessed by sink or float in water, by cut section examination and by weight per unit volume of the piece | Resin is heavier than wood. Material that sinks in water is fully saturated, material that floats is partly saturated, and the sink fraction of a parcel is measured rather than described. |
| Resin distributionAssessed by visual examination of the cut face and of the outer surface | Recorded as solid, veined, streaked or spotted, which describes where the resin sits in the piece and therefore how it burns and how much oil it yields. |
| ColourAssessed visually on a freshly cut face under daylight | Ranges from pale tan through brown to near black as resin saturation rises. Colour is recorded as observed on the cut face rather than on the weathered exterior, which is darker. |
| Aroma on heatingAssessed by heating a weighed sample on an electric heater at a stated temperature and describing the profile | The trade evaluation. Recorded as the descriptive profile and its persistence, not as a numeric score, and evaluated by both parties against the same retained sample. |
| Piece size and shapeMeasured on the individual piece and recorded by weight band | Large solid pieces are sold as display or carving material, small pieces and chips as incense material, and the parcel is described by the weight band distribution rather than by an average. |
| Pale wood contentEstimated as a percentage by mass of the parcel after cleaning | The unsaturated wood left attached after cleaning. It is the yield deduction and it is stated, because it is what the buyer will cut away. |
| Oil yieldDetermined by test distillation of a representative sample under stated conditions | Expressed as grams of oil per kilogram of charge under the stated still, soak and duration. Reported with the exact method, because yield is meaningless without it. |
| Oil sensory profileAssessed on a blotter by a trained evaluator against a retained reference sample | Recorded descriptively, with the reference sample retained by both parties so that the delivered oil can be matched against what was sold. |
Dimensions and measurement
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Net weightWeighed on a calibrated scale at the stated moisture condition | The invoice basis for chip, block and powder. The weighing point and the moisture condition are both named, because agarwood takes up moisture and the weight moves with it. |
| Piece countCounted, where the parcel is sold as selected pieces | Large carving and display pieces are sold piece by piece, each recorded by weight and dimensions. |
| Piece dimensionsMeasured with a rule on the longest, widest and thickest axis of the piece | Recorded for selected pieces, since the shape governs what can be carved from a block. |
| Screen sizeDetermined by sieving through a stated aperture | Chips and powder are separated on screen apertures, and the aperture in millimetres is written into the contract rather than a trade name such as fine or coarse. |
| Oil quantityMeasured by weight, with density recorded so volume can be derived | Oil is contracted by weight rather than volume, because volume moves with temperature and the density of oud oil varies with the distillation. |
| Tare and packingWeighed separately and deducted | The container weight, the wrapping and any desiccant are deducted, and the deduction method is agreed before shipment. |
Physical and moisture condition
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Moisture contentDetermined by oven drying a representative sample to constant mass, or by calibrated resistance meter | Reported as a percentage of the dry mass with the method named. Wet material weighs more and can mould in transit. |
| Specific gravityDetermined by water displacement on a representative piece | Directly reflects resin saturation, since the resin is denser than the wood it fills. Measured rather than estimated where the parcel is priced on saturation. |
| Mould and insect conditionInspected visually and by cut section | Surface mould, borer holes and live infestation are recorded and treated, since agarwood is a food source for wood boring insects. |
| Foreign matterSeparated by hand from a weighed sample and expressed as a percentage by mass | Bark, soil, stones, metal and packing residue. Weighed rather than described. |
| Oil densityMeasured at a stated temperature with a hydrometer or density meter | Recorded with the temperature, since it is the basis for converting between weight and volume. |
| Oil refractive indexMeasured with a refractometer at a stated temperature | A physical constant used to detect dilution and to confirm that the delivered oil matches the reference sample. |
| Oil optical rotationMeasured with a polarimeter at a stated temperature and path length | Used together with density and refractive index as the standard physical identity set for a distilled essential oil. |
| Volatile compositionDetermined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry on a representative sample | The chromatogram is the identity record of the oil. It confirms the species character and detects synthetic addition or dilution. |
Legality, certification and phytosanitary status
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| CITES listingAppendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora | All Aquilaria and Gyrinops species are listed. Chips, powder, oil and finished products containing them fall within the listing as the annotation defines. |
| CITES export permitIssued by the management authority of the exporting country before shipment | Names the species, the form, the quantity and the source code. Shipment without a valid permit in place is not made. |
| CITES import documentationAs required by the importing country, including an import permit or notification where that country requires one | Checked against the destination before the cargo commits, because requirements differ between importing states. |
| Source codeDeclared on the permit, as wild, artificially propagated, or plantation | The source code determines the permit route and, in several markets, whether the material may be imported at all. |
| Harvest and transport permitsIssued under the forestry law of the country of origin | The domestic permit chain from the standing tree to the export point, assembled at origin and retained with the shipment file. |
| Phytosanitary certificateIssued by the national plant protection organisation of the exporting country | Required for wood and wood products by most destinations. Names any treatment applied. |
| Wood packagingISPM 15 treatment of any wood packaging material used | The crates and pallets are treated and marked, separately from the cargo itself. |
| Tariff classificationHarmonized System classification agreed before shipment | The classification of chips, powder and oil differs, and it is agreed in advance because it drives both duty and permit routing. |
Inspection, documentation and settlement
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| InspectionBy an independent inspection company, or by a buyer appointed grader, named in the contract | Grading, tally, measurement and condition checked at loading or at discharge as agreed, with a report and photographs issued to both parties. |
| TallyPiece by piece or by parcel, as the contract states | The count and measurement record that the invoice is built from, signed by both parties or by the appointed inspector. |
| Measurement basisDeclared, as the standard and the moisture condition the volume is calculated at | Named explicitly, because volume in this trade depends on the rule applied and on whether the material is green or dried. |
| Grading disputeResolved by a reinspection under the named rule, by an agreed independent grader | The reinspection procedure, the time limit for claiming and who bears the cost are all written in. |
| Phytosanitary certificationIssued by the plant protection organisation of the exporting country | Names the treatment applied and travels with the cargo. Required by most destinations for wood and wood products. |
| Legality documentationHarvest permit chain, transport permits, export permit and the due diligence statement where required | The document set that proves lawful origin, assembled before shipment because it cannot be reconstructed afterwards. |
| Certification and chain of custodyDeclared, as the scheme, the certificate number and the claim made | Where the material is sold as certified, the certificate scope must cover the actual species and the actual harvest area. |
| Payment termsDocumentary credit, cash against documents or open account, as agreed | Stated with the provisional and final invoice mechanism where the settlement depends on a tally or a grading at discharge. |
| Insurance and carriageDeclared, with the Incoterm and the insured value | The Incoterms rule named with the version year, and the party carrying the risk over each leg. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| India | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Bangladesh | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Myanmar | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Laos | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Cambodia | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Philippines | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Papua New Guinea | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| China | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Hong Kong | Asia | Trading hub |
| Taiwan | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Japan | Asia | Origin and destination |
| South Korea | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Singapore | Asia | Trading, finance and destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin, destination and trading hub |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Qatar | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Oman | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Origin and destination |
| France | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Switzerland | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Europe | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the material is cut or stripped at origin, which follows the dry season, the growth cycle or the felling licence period in that country. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is seasoning, sawing or processing, the permit and phytosanitary procedure and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Feb to DecHarvested in the northeast through the dry months, with distillation concentrated at Hojai and shipped mainly to the Gulf. | ||||||
| Bangladesh | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Feb to DecPlantation material from the Sylhet region, cut in the dry season and moving as both chip and distilled oil. | ||||||
| Myanmar | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Feb to MayDry season harvest, with permit procedure adding materially to the time between cutting and shipment. | |||||
| Thailand | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Feb to DecEstablished plantation and inoculation industry, shipping chip, powder and oil year round with a dry season peak. | ||||||
| Laos | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Jan to AprPlantation grown Aquilaria crassna, moving overland to Thailand and Vietnam for distillation and export. | ||||||
| Cambodia | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Jan to AprDry season cutting, with most material distilled regionally rather than exported as chip. | ||||||
| Vietnam | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Mar, arrival Feb to DecLarge plantation base and a substantial distillation industry, exporting oil to the Gulf and chip to East Asia. | |||||
| Malaysia | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecPlantation material available through the year, with rain interrupting field work rather than stopping it. |
| Indonesia | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecThe broadest species range in the trade, including Gyrinops from the eastern islands, shipping through the year. |
| Philippines | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Apr, arrival Feb to MaySmaller plantation base, harvested in the drier northern months. | |||||
| Papua New Guinea | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Jul to NovGyrinops material harvested in the drier middle of the year and shipped through Asian hubs. | |||||
| China | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Sep to Jan, arrival Oct to FebAquilaria sinensis from the southern provinces, harvested into the cooler months and largely consumed domestically. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including term supply, forward positions and stock already seasoned and sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for agarwood. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading4403.99 Wood in the rough, other, including agarwood
1211.90 Agarwood chips and powder used in perfumery - PackingSawn timber strapped in bundles by thickness and length, logs loose or on flat racks, cork in bales, bamboo and rattan in bundles. Kiln dried moisture content declared at load.
- Container loading20ft: 20 t to 25 t of sawn. 40ft is volume limited at roughly 55 to 60 cubic metres. Any wood packaging must carry an ISPM 15 heat treatment or fumigation mark.
- Contract and arbitrationATIBT contracts for tropical hardwood or the terms of the origin association, with arbitration under ATIBT rules or at the contract seat. NHLA grading rules where the destination is North America.
- Destination limitsAquilaria and Gyrinops are listed on CITES Appendix II, so every shipment of wood, chips, powder and oil needs a CITES export permit and, in several destinations, an import permit. EUDR due diligence and US Lacey Act declaration also apply. Trade without the permit is seized, not fined.
Common questions
What grades of agarwood does SIP Global trade?
We quote 46 published grades of agarwood, including Botanical species - Declared by botanical name, verified by wood anatomy or by DNA barcoding where the contract requires it, Resin formation - Declared, as naturally infected, or as induced by inoculation on a plantation, Form - Declared, as chip, block, sliver, sawdust, powder, or distilled oil, Wood part - Declared, as trunk heartwood, branch, root, or stump, Cleaning method - Declared, as hand carved, machine cleaned, or uncleaned and Adulteration status - Declared as unadulterated, and verified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry where the contract requires it. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is agarwood graded?
Agarwood is bought on species, on the form of the material, and above all on resin content, because resin is the only thing being paid for. Every parameter below names how it is judged, and no parameter is a score. Because plantation induced material and wild material behave differently on the burner and in the still, the origin of the resin formation is declared rather than implied, and the CITES permit position is settled before any cargo commits. Grading runs on 6 systems: Species, form and identification, Grading and appearance, Dimensions and measurement, Physical and moisture condition, Legality, certification and phytosanitary status and Inspection, documentation and settlement.
Where does SIP Global trade agarwood?
We trade agarwood in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia and 19 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is agarwood harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are India: harvest nov to mar, arrival feb to dec; Bangladesh: harvest nov to mar, arrival feb to dec; Myanmar: harvest nov to mar, arrival feb to may; Thailand: harvest nov to mar, arrival feb to dec; Laos: harvest nov to mar, arrival jan to apr. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for agarwood?
Agarwood is normally classified under HS 4403.99 (wood in the rough, other, including agarwood) and HS 1211.90 (agarwood chips and powder used in perfumery). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for agarwood?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed agarwood market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- CITESConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species
- IPPCInternational Plant Protection Convention phytosanitary measures
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.