India Adds Guwahati Airport as Export Point for Agarwood Oil and Chips, CITES Rules Unchanged

Export Points Rise from 12 to 13, Opening a Wider Channel for Northeastern India

On October 30, 2026, India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued Notification No. 46/2026, amending Note 3 of the Export Licensing Notes in Chapter 12 of Schedule 2 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy, 2022. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati was added as an export point for agarwood oil, chips and allied products, bringing the total to 13 alongside Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and others. The move, announced by the Commerce Minister on October 31, was made at the request of Assam's Chief Minister.

Assam holds roughly 81% of India's agarwood resource and the sector supports more than 50,000 farmers and workers. Compliance requirements remain firm: as Aquilaria malaccensis is listed under CITES Appendix II and rated Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, exports still require a CITES export permit and a DGFT restricted-export licence. India completed its first legal agarwood chip export in May 2026 (112 kg worth about Rs 2.35 crore to Saudi Arabia and the UAE), followed by 123 kg shipped from Guwahati to Dubai in October. Industry observers expect the expanded port list to cut logistics costs for the region's 'high-value, low-volume' exports, while stressing that traceable compliance remains the precondition for going global.

This article is an industry observation and science popularization summary and does not constitute any trading or investment advice. For agarwood purchases, please use legal channels and verify traceable, testable sources.