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DGFT permits export of agarwood oil, chips through Guwahati airport
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
November 11 , 2026
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The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has permitted the export of agarwood oil, agarwood chips and allied products through Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati, expanding the number of authorised export gateways for these products. The move is expected to facilitate exports from India's northeastern region by providing exporters with an additional air cargo route, while retaining existing statutory, regulatory and environmental compliance requirements.
Agarwood (Oud) oil and chips—derived from resin-infected heartwood of Aquilaria trees—are utilized in the pharmaceutical and therapeutic sectors for their bioactive and pharmacological properties.
The decision has been notified through DGFT under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, read with the relevant provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023. The notification amends Note 3 of the Export Licensing Notes under Chapter 12, Schedule 2 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy, 2022, relating to the export policy for agarwood.
Under the revised provision, exports of agarwood oil, agarwood chips and allied products will also be permitted through LGBI International Airport, Guwahati, subject to compliance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. This is an addition to the existing list of designated export gateways specified under the policy.
Prior to this amendment, exports were permitted only through Mumbai, Nhava Sheva, Kolkata, Cochin, Delhi, Chennai, Tuticorin, Amritsar, Calicut, Thiruvananthapuram, Kandla and Mundra. With the inclusion of Guwahati airport, exporters dealing in agarwood products will have an additional designated point for undertaking international shipments.
The amendment is particularly relevant for exporters and businesses operating in the northeastern states, where agarwood is an important forest-based commercial product. The availability of an authorised airport in Guwahati could reduce the logistical dependence on distant export gateways, potentially improving cargo movement, shipment planning and access to overseas markets. It may also support the development of regional trade infrastructure and encourage greater participation of legitimate producers and exporters in international trade.
Agarwood and its derivatives are subject to specific export controls because of their regulatory and conservation-related implications. Accordingly, the notification retains the existing requirement that exports involving species covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) must be accompanied by a valid CITES export permit. The additional airport facility does not dilute the applicable conditions governing the sourcing, processing and international movement of regulated agarwood products.
The notification also retains the provision that, except for the documents specifically prescribed under the export licensing requirements, exporters will not be required to furnish additional information, no-objection certificates or documents to any State or Central government authority. This provision is intended to provide procedural clarity and prevent the imposition of additional documentation requirements beyond those prescribed under the policy.
A senior DGFT official said the amendment is intended to facilitate legitimate exports by providing an additional authorised gateway without compromising regulatory compliance. The official noted that the inclusion of Guwahati would help exporters in the northeastern region access international markets through a designated airport, while CITES requirements and other applicable statutory safeguards would continue to govern shipments.
Lav Agarwal, DGFT stated that the amendment is expected to provide a more direct export channel for eligible agarwood products originating in the Northeast, while balancing trade facilitation with conservation obligations and regulatory oversight.
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