Agarwood Latest News
Recently, the Assam government shipped the first legally approved export of agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) chips to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
About Agarwood
- It is a species of tree belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family.
- It is also known as Oud, Gaharu or Agar
- The Aquilaria tree is a fast-growing, subtropical forest tree.
- The resin is produced as a defence mechanism due to the intense stress suffered by the trees when they are infected by a type of mold belonging to the Phaeoacremonium species (Phialophora parasitica).
- Distribution: It is mainly found in South Asia’s Himalayan foothills, throughout Southeast Asia, and into the rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
- In India, it grows in the wild in the Northeast, especially in Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.
- Soil: Aquilaria can grow on a wide range of soils, including poor sandy soil.
- Applications of Agarwood: It is one of the world’s most valuable aromatic raw materials and is widely used in luxury perfumes, incense, cosmetics and traditional products across the Gulf, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status of Agarwood
- IUCN: Critically Endangered.
- CITES: Appendix II
Source: TH
Last updated on June, 2026
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Agarwood FAQs
Q1. What are the applications of Agarwood?+
Q2. What is the CITES status of Aquilaria malaccensis?+
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