Sinking Agarwood Chips for Export
Sinking agarwood chips are the premium export tier: chips dense enough to sink in water carry the highest resin saturation, and command the top of our plantation band, up to USD 7,000 per kg (as of 2026, indicative, final quote confirms grade and scope). Legal export requires a CITES permit plus a BKSDA recommendation.
Buyers in the Gulf and China pay for one thing above all: resin. The more resin packed into the wood, the denser the chip, the darker its veining, and the deeper its aroma when heated. “Sinking grade” is shorthand for chips so saturated they drop straight to the bottom of a glass of water instead of floating. That single, observable test is why sinking chips sit at the apex of every serious grading conversation.
What makes a chip “sinking” grade?
Three objective criteria decide the tier, and they move together.
- Density (the water test): Drop a chip into room-temperature water. High-resin material sinks; low-resin wood floats. Sinking is the most-cited proxy for quality because resin is heavier than the surrounding wood fibre.
- Resin saturation: Look for black-brown “tiger-stripe” veining running through the grain — not a uniform, plastic-like black, which is a warning sign of dyeing or oil injection.
- Aromatic intensity: A hot-plate or steam test releases the fragrance. Stronger, longer-lasting aroma tracks with higher resin, higher density and a higher grade.
Indonesian chips are commonly sorted across about nine grades, with the key tiers being Super A, Super B, Super C and Sabak; the remaining grades mostly denote wood size and resin quantity. Worth stating plainly: these grading systems are industry conventions that vary by region and tradition — they are not an official Indonesian national standard.
How do sinking, semi-sinking and floating chips compare?
The table below maps buoyancy to grade and to an indicative position within our plantation band. Treat every figure as indicative as of 2026; the final quote confirms grade and scope.
| Buoyancy class | Behaviour in water | Typical tier | Indicative per 10 g | Indicative per kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinking | Sinks fully and fast | Super A / Super B | USD 100-300+ | USD 4,000-7,000 |
| Semi-sinking | Suspends mid-water or sinks slowly | Super C / Sabak | USD 20-60 | USD 1,500-4,000 |
| Floating | Rests on the surface | Lower grades / kemedangan | USD 5-15 | USD 500-1,500 |
For context on the top of the market, buyer guides quote premium Super A chips at USD 100-300+ per 10 g, while natural oud oil runs USD 200-1,000+ per ml — which is why our canonical oud and agarwood oil band sits at USD 30,000-80,000 per kg. Market commentary in 2026 notes that superior pure wild agarwood can reach around US$290,000 per kg while artificial or plantation material may sit near US$100 per kg, showing how wide the wild-versus-plantation gap has become.
How can you tell real sinking chips from fakes?
Because sinking grade earns a premium, it attracts imitation. Common tricks include soaking low-grade wood in resin or synthetic oil, injecting dye, or compressing sawdust. Protect your order:
- Repeat the water test cold. Genuine sinking chips sink on density, not on a temporary oil coating that washes off.
- Inspect the veining. Natural resin shows irregular tiger-stripe patterns; a flat, uniform black is suspect.
- Heat a sample. Injected oils smell sharp or chemical and fade fast; true agarwood aroma is layered and persistent.
- Check the cut. Uniform, machine-perfect chips of “premium” wood deserve scrutiny.
We send graded samples with written water-immersion and aroma notes before any bulk commitment, so you verify tier before you pay for volume.
What does legal export actually require?
This matters more than price. Most Aquilaria and Gyrinops species are listed under CITES Appendix II, so international trade is permitted but regulated. Legal export requires a CITES export permit plus a BKSDA recommendation, and is subject to a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) confirming the trade will not harm wild populations. Indonesia’s 2024 NDF set a wild Aquilaria malaccensis quota of 24,110 kg.
CITES paperwork distinguishes source code W (wild) from P (plantation or artificially propagated). Plantation material is generally easier to permit and more sustainable, which is why we source plantation-first and never promote or facilitate illegal wild-harvest. Moving processed chips between Indonesian regions also needs a wood transport permit — the Surat Angkutan Kayu Olahan (SAKO) — from the local forest authority.
To be clear about our role: Agarwood Export is a sourcing broker and information hub, not a permit authority. We do not sell permit certainty or guarantee customs clearance. Always confirm current requirements with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your import country.
How does sourcing a sinking-chip order work?
- Brief us. Share target grade (for example, Super A sinking), volume, and destination country via WhatsApp or email.
- Sample and verify. We match plantation lots and send graded samples with water-immersion and hot-plate aroma notes.
- Confirm grade and route. Once you approve the tier, we map the CITES export permit and BKSDA recommendation route, arranged via vetted licensed partners.
- Get your quote. We return a written quote within 24 business hours, priced against the grade-dependent band and checked against NDF quota.
- Document and ship. SAKO, export documentation, packing and freight are coordinated; you confirm import-country rules on your side.
| Order option | Typical volume | Indicative lead time | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample set (grade check) | 50-200 g | 3-7 days | Per-10 g rate by tier |
| Trial export lot | 1-5 kg | 3-6 weeks incl. permit | Per-kg band by grade |
| Standing supply | 10 kg+ | Scheduled, per NDF quota | Negotiated within band |
Talk to the trade desk
Ready to verify a grade or price a sinking-chip lot? Our concierge routes your enquiry to the right plantation source and permit partner.
- WhatsApp: 6281139414563
- Email: bd@juaraholding.com
- Quote SLA: written response within 24 business hours
Prefer to write it down? Use the enquiry form on this page (grade, destination, cargo detail) and we reply the same way. This desk is operated by Juara Holding Group; permit steps are arranged via vetted licensed partners, never sold as a guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do sinking agarwood chips always grade higher than floating chips?
Generally yes. Sinking signals high resin saturation, which correlates with stronger aroma, higher density and a higher tier such as Super A or B. But the water test is one of three criteria — veining and heated aroma confirm it. A chip weighted by injected oil can sink dishonestly, so always retest cold and heat a sample.
Can plantation agarwood chips genuinely sink?
Yes. Sinking depends on resin content, not on whether the tree was wild or cultivated. Well-inoculated, mature plantation Aquilaria can produce sinking-grade chips, though the very top of the wild market still commands prices plantation material rarely reaches. Plantation stock also carries CITES source code P, which is generally easier to permit and more sustainable.
How do you test whether chips truly sink before export?
We drop samples in room-temperature water so you see genuine density, not a temporary oil coating, then inspect for irregular tiger-stripe veining and run a hot-plate or steam aroma test. Every sample ships with written notes. You approve the tier on real evidence before committing to a bulk order, as of our 2026 process.
Do I need a CITES permit to export sinking agarwood chips?
Yes. Aquilaria is CITES Appendix II, so legal export requires a CITES export permit plus a BKSDA recommendation, subject to a Non-Detriment Finding. We are a sourcing broker, not a permit authority, and arrange permit steps via vetted licensed partners. Always confirm current requirements with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your import country.
Why do sinking chip prices vary so widely?
Because grade drives everything. Our plantation chip band runs USD 500-7,000 per kg (as of 2026, indicative), with sinking Super tiers at the top and lighter floating grades at the base. Resin saturation, aroma and origin all move the number, so a final quote always confirms grade and scope rather than a single headline price.