Wild agarwood chips can be exported from Indonesia legally, but only under a government Non-Detriment Finding quota, with a CITES Appendix II export permit and a BKSDA recommendation. We source solely from documented, quota-allocated wild stock and never facilitate illegal harvest. Indonesia’s 2024 NDF set a 24,110 kg wild Aquilaria malaccensis ceiling.
Wild chips are the tier collectors and oud connoisseurs chase: naturally infected Aquilaria wood, higher resin, more complex aroma, far rarer than plantation material. That rarity is exactly why the legality has to be airtight. Agarwood Export is a sourcing broker and information hub, not a permit authority. We help you buy documented wild material the right way, and we say plainly where the legal risk sits.
Is it legal to export wild agarwood chips from Indonesia?
Yes, with conditions. Most Aquilaria and Gyrinops species are listed under CITES Appendix II, so international trade is allowed but regulated. Legal export of wild chips requires a CITES export permit plus a BKSDA (regional conservation agency) recommendation, and the shipment must sit inside an approved harvest quota set by a Non-Detriment Finding, the assessment confirming that trade will not harm wild populations.
In Indonesia, gaharu is treated as a forest product under the Ministry of Forestry and regional forestry offices, and issuance of CITES export permits sits with the designated national Management Authority. We never sell permit certainty and never guarantee customs clearance. Always confirm current requirements with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your import country before committing to a shipment.
Why does the 2024 NDF quota matter for wild chips?
Because it is a hard ceiling. Indonesia’s 2024 Non-Detriment Finding set a wild Aquilaria malaccensis quota of 24,110 kg. Once allocated across permit holders, that volume is finite for the cycle, which is why credible wild stock is limited and priced accordingly.
CITES paperwork also distinguishes source code W (wild) from source code P (plantation or artificially propagated). Wild material carries the W code and the full quota scrutiny; plantation material is generally easier to permit and more sustainable. When a supplier cannot show you where a wild lot sits against the quota, that is your signal to walk away.
| Document / step | Who issues it | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|
| CITES export permit (source code W) | National CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) | Authorises the international shipment as wild-sourced |
| BKSDA recommendation | Regional conservation agency (BKSDA) | Confirms the material’s legal source |
| NDF quota allocation | Scientific authority | Shows the lot sits within the 24,110 kg 2024 wild A. malaccensis ceiling |
| SAKO transport permit | Local forest authority | Legalises moving processed wood between Indonesian regions |
| Import-country CITES clearance | Your national authority | Confirms the shipment is accepted on arrival |
What do documented wild agarwood chips cost?
Wild agarwood is a grade-dependent band, never a single number. Grading rests on three objective criteria: density (tested by water immersion, where sinking signals higher resin), resin saturation (black-brown “tiger-stripe” veining, not a uniform plastic-like black), and aromatic intensity (hot-plate or steam testing). Higher resin means stronger fragrance, higher density and a higher grade.
Market commentary in 2026 shows how wide the wild-versus-plantation gap has grown: superior pure wild agarwood can reach around US$290,000/kg, while artificial or plantation material may sit near US$100/kg. The retail figures below are indicative context, as of 2026; a final quote confirms grade and scope.
| Grade / form | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Super A wild chips (sinking) | USD 100-300+ per 10 g | Connoisseur tier, documented origin only |
| Wild A-grade chips | USD 50-120 per 10 g | Dense resin veining; example comparison figure |
| Mid B/A chips | USD 20-60 per 10 g | Partial sinking, strong aroma |
| Agarwood powder | USD 10-25 per 10 g | Milled offcuts for incense blends |
| Natural oud oil | USD 200-1,000+ per ml | Distilled; per-kg roughly USD 30,000-80,000 |
For context, our canonical plantation chip band runs USD 500-7,000/kg depending on grade, and oud oil USD 30,000-80,000/kg. Wild lots sit above the plantation chip band and are priced per documented lot, not off a fixed sheet. Note the history: TRAFFIC’s report “Heart of the Matter” recorded super grade A agarwood at Apau Kayan, East Kalimantan in 1997 at IDR 1,250,000 per kg (about USD 450/kg then), which shows how far the wild market has moved. Grading systems are industry conventions that vary by region and tradition, not an official Indonesian national standard, so we quote against verified physical samples, not labels alone.
Wild agarwood from Papua and Maluku is regarded as typically superior; East Kalimantan, notably Apau Kayan, is a documented historical wild-sourcing area. We keep Bali claims to sourcing and logistics access, never a fabricated local price sheet.
How does sourcing documented wild chips work?
A clear, honesty-first path from enquiry to export:
- Brief us. Send your target grade, volume and destination country by WhatsApp or email. Tell us if this is for a private collection, oud distillation or resale.
- Quota and stock check. We confirm documented wild stock and whether quota is available against the current NDF cycle, then send an indicative quote within 24 business hours.
- Paperwork lined up. We map the CITES export permit application, BKSDA recommendation and SAKO transport permit where processed wood moves between regions.
- Grade verification. Density (water immersion), resin saturation and aroma testing, with photos and, where practical, samples, so the lot matches the price.
- Documented export. You confirm your import-country CITES requirements; we coordinate the shipment against valid permits. No permit guarantees, no customs guarantees.
Legal risk, stated plainly: buying undocumented “wild super” exposes you to seizure, fines and reputational damage, and much material marketed as wild is non-infected wood impregnated with cheap oil. We do not touch illegal harvest. Plantation-first remains our default, and we only broker wild lots that carry a paper trail.
Talk to the trade desk
Ready to price a documented wild lot, or want us to confirm what is legally possible for your destination? Our Juara Holding Group trade desk answers quote requests within 24 business hours.
- WhatsApp: 6281139414563
- Email: bd@juaraholding.com
- Backup enquiry form: send your name, email, destination, cargo details and message, and we will route it to the desk.
Tell us grade, volume and import country in your first message so we can check quota availability before we quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wild agarwood banned from export in Indonesia?
No, it is not banned, it is regulated. Wild Aquilaria is CITES Appendix II, so international trade is legal when the shipment carries a CITES export permit and a BKSDA recommendation and stays within the approved NDF harvest quota. Undocumented wild material, however, is illegal to export, which is why documentation is non-negotiable.
How much wild agarwood can Indonesia legally export each year?
Volumes are capped by species-specific quotas from each Non-Detriment Finding. Indonesia’s 2024 NDF set a wild Aquilaria malaccensis quota of 24,110 kg. Quotas reset per NDF cycle and are allocated across permit holders, so available wild stock is genuinely finite, always confirm current figures with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia).
How can I verify wild agarwood chips are legally sourced?
Ask to see the CITES export permit marked source code W, the BKSDA recommendation, proof the lot sits within the NDF quota, and a SAKO transport permit where processed wood moved between regions. Then confirm acceptance with your import country’s CITES authority. If a supplier cannot produce this trail, treat the lot as high-risk.
Why are wild agarwood chips so much more expensive than plantation?
Wild chips come from naturally infected trees with higher resin and more complex aroma, and they are strictly quota-limited. Market commentary in 2026 notes superior pure wild agarwood reaching around US$290,000/kg while plantation material may sit near US$100/kg, showing how wide the gap has become. Scarcity, quality and legal scrutiny all push wild prices up.