Middle East Oud Market Heats Up: A Window for Chinese Agarwood to Go Global

Middle East Oud Market Heats Up: A Window for Chinese Agarwood to Go Global

Inside China's agarwood industry, a consensus is forming: the Middle East (Gulf Cooperation Council, six nations) is the core consumer region of Oud (عود, i.e. agarwood) culture, and one of the most predictable growth markets for high-end Chinese agarwood.

This aligns with the upcoming expo window. According to public information, the 3rd "Tianxiang Guose · Agarwood & Huanghuali International Trade Fair" is scheduled for November 21–24, 2026 at the Hainan International Convention & Exhibition Center (Haikou), with over 300 Middle East buyers confirmed to attend as a group — the largest Middle East procurement delegation in the fair's history.

1. Demand side: Oud is structural, not niche

In Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, agarwood is not a "niche incense hobby" but a high-frequency staple for social, festive, gifting and religious occasions. From raw Oud wood to Oud oil (Dehn Al Oud) and carved beads, Middle East buyers show rising acceptance of Chinese agarwood that is "rich in aroma, full of oil, and traceable in origin."

> China Agarwood Network insight: What Gulf buyers value is not low price, but grade, authenticity and traceability — a real chance for a Chinese industry long plagued by counterfeits to build trusted brands.

2. Supply side: Hainan and Dianbai scale up "group export"

On the supply end, the Hainan Aquilaria industry alliance is consolidating local raw material and high-value products, while the Maoming Dianbai "Southern Herbs & Incense Hub" marketing center has opened, strengthening the chain from cultivation and testing (e.g. ZGC-series certificates) to cross-border trade. Producers are joining forces to meet large international buyers as one.

3. Practical touchpoints for operators

• **Content first**: The English (/en) and Arabic (/ar) editions are the first entry point for Gulf traffic — product pages should carry Arabic descriptions and a direct WhatsApp line.
• **Certificate backing**: For export, testing certificates and origin traceability speak louder than promises.
• **Sample strategy**: Gulf buyers tend to "trial in small batches, then reorder" — prepare standardized, shippable sample kits.

4. Window assessment

Multiple signals (expo season, group procurement, and the new national occupation "Incense Artisan") converge to show Chinese agarwood export is at a key window shifting "from fragmented trade to branded对接". Operators are advised to use the month before the November fair for stocking and content build-out, and to lock in Middle East buyer channels early.

> This article is an industry insight and a compilation of public information, not trade advice. Actual deals and compliance are subject to local markets and regulations.