Agarwood export from Indonesia is legal but tightly regulated: Aquilaria and Gyrinops are CITES Appendix II species, so every shipment needs a CITES export permit plus a BKSDA recommendation and a valid Non-Detriment Finding. Plantation-sourced chips and oud oil are easier to permit, more sustainable, and the safest route to market.
Indonesia is one of the world’s largest suppliers of gaharu — the resin-soaked heartwood that forms when Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees respond to infection. Gulf, China, Japan and European buyers want two things from here: graded chips for incense and bakhoor, and distilled oud oil for perfumery. This guide maps the full route so you can move from first enquiry to a legal, documented shipment.
Two points frame everything below. Most Aquilaria and Gyrinops species sit on CITES Appendix II, so international trade is allowed but controlled. And this site is a sourcing broker and information hub — not a permit authority. Always confirm current requirements with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your import country before you commit to a shipment.
How is Indonesian agarwood graded and priced?
Indonesian chips are usually sorted across about nine grades. The headline tiers are Super A, Super B, Super C and Sabak; the remaining grades mostly describe wood size and resin quantity. These are industry conventions that vary by region and trader — Indonesia has no single official national grading standard.
Graders rely on three objective checks:
- Density — chips are dropped in water; sinking signals higher resin content.
- Resin saturation — dark black-brown “tiger-stripe” veining, not a flat, plastic-like black.
- Aromatic intensity — hot-plate or steam testing. More resin means stronger fragrance, higher density and a higher grade.
Wild material from Papua and Maluku is generally regarded as superior; East Kalimantan, notably Apau Kayan, is a documented historical wild-sourcing area.
Pricing is a grade-dependent band, never one number. The figures below are indicative sub-bands within the plantation range of USD 500-7,000/kg (as of 2026); a final quote confirms grade and scope.
| Grade tier | What it is | Indicative export band |
|---|---|---|
| Super A | Sinking, heavy tiger-stripe resin | USD 3,000-7,000/kg |
| Super B / Super C | High-to-mid resin, mostly sinking | USD 1,500-3,000/kg |
| Sabak & mid grades | Moderate resin, size-sorted | USD 800-1,500/kg |
| Low-resin (C/D) chips & powder | Incense-blend material | USD 500-800/kg |
| Oud / agarwood oil | Steam or hydro-distilled | USD 30,000-80,000/kg |
For retail context, buyer guides quote Indonesian chips at roughly USD 5-15 per 10 g for low C/D grades, USD 20-60 per 10 g for mid B/A, and USD 100-300+ per 10 g for premium Super A, with natural oud oil at USD 200-1,000+ per ml. Market commentary in 2026 notes superior pure wild agarwood can reach around US$290,000/kg while artificial or plantation material may sit near US$100/kg — which is exactly why we quote a band, not a sticker price. Historically, TRAFFIC’s report “Heart of the Matter” recorded “super grade A” at IDR 1,250,000/kg (about USD 450/kg at the time) in Apau Kayan back in 1997.
What is the legal CITES and BKSDA export pathway?
Legal export requires a CITES export permit plus a BKSDA recommendation, and the trade is subject to a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) confirming it 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); plantation material is generally easier to permit and more sustainable — the reason we stay plantation-first and never facilitate illegal wild-harvest.
| Step | What happens | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Verify source | Confirm plantation (code P) or quota-covered wild (code W); collect legal-procurement proof | Exporter + supplier |
| 2. BKSDA recommendation | Regional conservation office issues its recommendation | BKSDA |
| 3. NDF & quota check | Confirm the shipment fits the current Non-Detriment Finding quota | Management Authority |
| 4. CITES export permit | National CITES Management Authority issues the export permit | CITES MA Indonesia |
| 5. Transport & customs docs | SAKO transport permit, HS code, invoice, packing list | Exporter + forwarder |
| 6. Import-country clearance | Destination presents the CITES permit to its own authority | Buyer |
Two extra Indonesian rules catch first-time exporters. Moving processed agarwood between regions needs a wood-transport permit — the Surat Angkutan Kayu Olahan (SAKO) — from the local forest authority, and harvesting from State forests in Kalimantan needs a permit under Forestry Regulation No. 28. For older cost context: under Ministry of Forestry Decree No. 606/Kpts-IV/1996, the Iuran Hasil Hutan forest-resource tax was IDR 20,000/kg for gubal and damar gaharu and IDR 15,000/kg for kemedangan (each about USD 2/kg at the quoted rate).
Which HS codes and buyers matter?
Agarwood chips generally move under wood or plant-product HS headings, while distilled oud oil moves under essential-oil headings. Confirm the exact code with your freight forwarder and the destination customs authority, because a wrong code stalls CITES-controlled cargo. Demand concentrates in three places: Gulf buyers (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait) for bakhoor and attar, China for incense and collection-grade chips, and niche European and Japanese perfumers for single-origin oud.
How does sourcing and a quote work?
- Send your target — grade, chips versus oud oil, volume, and destination — to the trade desk on WhatsApp 6281139414563 or bd@juaraholding.com.
- We shortlist vetted plantation-first suppliers and confirm indicative pricing against your grade and scope.
- You receive a written quote within 24 business hours, with the CITES and BKSDA documentation route mapped for your shipment.
- On approval, sourcing, grading QC and licensed logistics partners are arranged. Permit issuance stays with the authorities — we never guarantee it or promise customs clearance.
Where to go next
Chips: [plantation agarwood chips](/plantation-agarwood-chips-export-indonesia/), [wild agarwood chips](/wild-agarwood-chips-export-indonesia/), [sinking agarwood chips](/sinking-agarwood-chips-for-export/), [Indonesian chips supplier](/indonesian-agarwood-chips-supplier/), [chips supplier in Bali](/agarwood-chips-supplier-bali/), [bulk chips orders](/bulk-agarwood-chips-order-indonesia/).
Oil: [oud oil export](/oud-oil-export-indonesia/), [Indonesian agarwood oil supplier](/indonesian-agarwood-oil-supplier/), [wild oud oil export](/wild-oud-oil-export-indonesia/), [plantation oud oil export](/plantation-oud-oil-export-indonesia/), [oud oil private label](/oud-oil-private-label-manufacturer-indonesia/), [oud distillery in Bali](/oud-oil-distillery-service-bali/).
Services and permits: [export company](/agarwood-export-company-indonesia/), [export services](/indonesian-agarwood-export-services/), [export agent](/agarwood-export-agent-indonesia/), [export broker Bali](/agarwood-export-broker-bali/), [CITES permit support](/agarwood-cites-permit-service-indonesia/), [BKSDA licensing support](/bksda-agarwood-export-licensing/), [export documentation](/agarwood-export-documentation-service/), [export logistics](/agarwood-export-logistics-indonesia/).
Sourcing and pricing: [sourcing agent Bali](/agarwood-sourcing-agent-bali/), [agarwood investment](/agarwood-investment-bali-indonesia/), [price list](/indonesian-agarwood-price-list-export/).
Get an agarwood export quote
Tell our trade desk your grade, product form and destination, and you will have an indicative quote within 24 business hours with the permit route mapped out. This service is operated by Juara Holding Group as a sourcing broker — not a permit authority, and never a seller of permit certainty.
- WhatsApp: 6281139414563
- Email: bd@juaraholding.com
Agarwood Export is part of Juara Holding Group, a Bali-based Indonesian group operating from Bali across Indonesia since 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to export agarwood from Indonesia?
Yes — with the right paperwork. Aquilaria and Gyrinops are CITES Appendix II species, so legal export requires a CITES export permit plus a BKSDA recommendation, and the shipment must fit the current Non-Detriment Finding quota. Exporting without these documents is illegal. Confirm the current rules with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your import country before shipping.
What documents does agarwood export from Indonesia require?
At minimum: a CITES export permit, a BKSDA recommendation, proof of legal procurement, and a SAKO wood-transport permit for moving processed material between regions, plus the standard commercial invoice, packing list and correct HS code. Your import country may also require its own CITES import permit. A CITES-experienced freight forwarder helps assemble and check the file.
What is a Non-Detriment Finding and why does it matter?
A Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) is a scientific assessment confirming that exporting a CITES-listed species will not harm its wild population. It sets the annual quota — Indonesia’s 2024 NDF fixed a wild Aquilaria malaccensis quota of 24,110 kg. Your shipment must fit inside the current quota, which is one reason plantation material (source code P) is simpler to permit.
Which HS codes apply to agarwood chips and oud oil?
Agarwood chips generally move under wood or plant-product headings, while distilled oud oil moves under essential-oil headings. Codes differ by product form and destination, and a wrong code can stall CITES-controlled cargo at customs. Always confirm the exact HS code with your freight forwarder and the destination customs authority before booking freight.