A reliable quality-control SOP for Indonesian agarwood chips grades every batch against three objective tests — density by water immersion (sinking signals higher resin), resin saturation read as black-brown tiger-stripe veining, and aromatic intensity by hot-plate or steam. Consistent, documented grading, not a single price, is what separates a trustworthy supplier from a gamble.
What does a real grading SOP for agarwood chips check?
A written standard operating procedure exists so two people, on two different days, reach the same grade for the same chip. For Indonesian agarwood (gaharu), grading rests on three objective criteria rather than a seller’s opinion: density, resin saturation, and aromatic intensity. Higher resin content correlates with stronger fragrance, higher density and a higher grade, so the three tests reinforce one another.
Indonesian chips are commonly described 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. State this plainly: grading systems are industry conventions that vary by region and tradition — there is no official Indonesian national standard. A serious supplier documents which convention it uses, so your invoice grade means the same thing on both ends of the shipment. If you are comparing offers, ask any Indonesian agarwood chips supplier to hand over its written grading sheet before you talk price.
How is each test run, step by step?
The three tests are cheap, repeatable, and hard to fake once you know what to watch for. Here is the core of the SOP.
| Test | Method | Pass signal | Red flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | Water immersion — drop the chip in a glass of water | Sinks or sits low = high resin, higher grade | Floats high = low resin |
| Resin saturation | Visual inspection under daylight | Irregular black-brown “tiger-stripe” veining | Uniform, plastic-like black = possible dyeing |
| Aroma | Hot-plate or gentle steam test | Deep, sustained sweet-woody scent | Faint, flat, or solvent-like note |
A few operating notes belong in any honest SOP:
- Sinking is graded by degree, not pass/fail. Full sinkers are top tier; partial sinkers sit mid-band.
- Uniform, glossy black is a warning sign, not a selling point — real resin saturation shows irregular veining, not a painted look.
- Aroma should be judged both cold and hot. A chip that only smells when heated but reeks of solvent has usually been “helped.”
- Moisture matters. Chips are weighed after drying to an agreed moisture level, so you pay for agarwood, not water.
What grades and price bands should the SOP map to?
Grade language is only useful if it ties to a price you can sanction. A grade-dependent band is correct for agarwood — never trust a single flat number. As of 2026 these figures are indicative, with the final quote confirming grade and scope.
| Tier | What it means | Indicative retail context |
|---|---|---|
| Super A (premium) | Dense, heavy resin, full sinker, intense aroma | roughly USD 100–300+ per 10 g |
| Super B / A (mid) | Strong veining, partial-to-full sink | roughly USD 20–60 per 10 g |
| Super C / Sabak / lower | Lighter resin, size-driven grades | roughly USD 5–15 per 10 g |
| Agarwood powder | Ground offcuts | roughly USD 10–25 per 10 g |
| Oud / agarwood oil | Distilled | natural oud oil USD 200–1,000+ per ml |
At wholesale, plantation agarwood chips run USD 500-7,000/kg depending on grade (low-resin to super), and oud/agarwood oil runs USD 30,000-80,000/kg (as of 2026, indicative, final quote confirms grade and scope). A comparison example lists wild A-grade chips at USD 50–120 per 10 g, cultivated B-grade chips at USD 20–40 per 10 g, and agarwood powder at USD 10–25 per 10 g. The wild-versus-plantation gap is now enormous: 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 grade documentation, not adjectives, should drive your purchase order.
How do you verify a supplier actually follows the SOP?
Ask for evidence, not promises. A supplier running real quality control can:
- Show a per-batch grading sheet logging density, resin and aroma results against sample IDs.
- Let you, or a third-party inspector, re-run the water and hot-plate tests on a drawn sample before shipment.
- State the moisture level and weighing method in writing.
- Match photos and video of the exact lot to the grade claimed.
Plantation-first sourcing also makes the SOP easier to trust: cultivated material is more consistent batch to batch than opportunistic wild harvest, and it is more sustainable. CITES documents distinguish source code W (wild) from P (plantation/artificially propagated), and plantation material is generally easier to permit.
Why does legal sourcing sit inside the quality SOP?
Because a chip you cannot legally export has no grade worth paying for. Most Aquilaria and Gyrinops species are listed under CITES Appendix II, so international trade is allowed but regulated. Legal export requires a CITES export permit plus a BKSDA recommendation and is subject to a Non-Detriment Finding; Indonesia’s 2024 NDF set a wild Aquilaria malaccensis quota of 24,110 kg.
This site is a sourcing broker and information hub, not a permit authority. We never sell permit certainty or guarantee customs clearance. Confirm the current requirements with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your import country before you commit. Moving processed agarwood between Indonesian regions also needs a wood transport permit — the Surat Angkutan Kayu Olahan (SAKO) — from the local forest authority, so a legitimate SOP tracks paperwork alongside grade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a buyer re-test agarwood chip grade without lab equipment?
Yes. The core SOP needs only a glass of water and a hot plate. Drop a chip in water — sinking signals high resin and a higher grade — then heat a small sample and judge the aroma’s depth and staying power. Inspect for irregular tiger-stripe veining in daylight. These three checks catch most misgrading and crude adulteration.
Is there an official Indonesian grade standard for agarwood chips?
No. Grading systems for Indonesian gaharu are industry conventions that vary by region and tradition, not a national standard. Chips are commonly split across about nine grades, with Super A, Super B, Super C and Sabak as key tiers. Insist your supplier documents which convention it uses, so the grade on your invoice means the same thing at both ends.
What price band should Super A agarwood chips fall into?
Frame it as a grade-dependent band, never one number. As of 2026, buyer guides put premium Super A chips at roughly USD 100–300+ per 10 g, while wholesale plantation chips span USD 500-7,000/kg across all grades. Wild top-grade material can reach far higher. Final wholesale quotes confirm grade, moisture and scope before any figure is fixed.