Assam agarwood reaches Dubai: CM Sarma flags export push for 50,000 farmers
Synopsis
Assam has shipped 123 kg of agarwood chips to Dubai — a small consignment with outsized symbolic weight. With the state holding 81 per cent of India's agarwood resources and over 50,000 farmers tied to the sector, CM Sarma's export push could reshape how a centuries-old fragrant heritage connects with the Gulf's booming luxury perfume market.
Key Takeaways
Assam exported 123 kg of agarwood chips to Dubai , as highlighted by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 28 October 2026 .
Assam accounts for approximately 81 per cent of India's total agarwood resources, according to the Chief Minister's Office.
The agarwood sector supports more than 50,000 farmers and workers in the state.
The Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy aims to encourage organised cultivation, value addition, and export market access.
Agarwood is used in perfumes, incense, essential oils, and luxury aromatic products, commanding strong demand in Gulf and East Asian markets.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 28 October 2026 highlighted the state's expanding global trade footprint after 123 kg of agarwood chips were exported to Dubai, describing the shipment as a significant milestone for an industry that supports more than 50,000 farmers and workers across the state.
CM Sarma's Remarks
'Taking Assam's fragrant heritage to the world!' Sarma said in a social media post, adding that the export marked a meaningful step towards broadening the international market for Assam's traditional agarwood industry. The Chief Minister said the consignment would strengthen the state's presence in global trade while generating fresh opportunities for those engaged in agarwood cultivation, processing, and allied activities.
Assam's Dominant Share of India's Agarwood
According to information shared by the Chief Minister's Office, Assam accounts for approximately 81 per cent of India's agarwood resources, cementing the state's position as the country's primary producer of the prized fragrant wood. Agarwood — formed in certain trees of the genus Aquilaria — is widely used in the manufacture of perfumes, incense, essential oils, and traditional aromatic products, commanding high commercial value in markets across the Middle East, East Asia, and Europe.
Policy Push and Livelihood Potential
The state government has been promoting the sector through a suite of policy measures aimed at improving market access and facilitating trade for agarwood growers and businesses. The Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy is specifically designed to encourage organised cultivation, spur value addition, and help producers connect with domestic and international buyers. Notably, agarwood's high commercial value has made it a critical livelihood anchor in rural parts of Northeast India, and expanding exports is expected to support entrepreneurship and processing activity, particularly in interior regions.
Significance of the Dubai Shipment
The consignment to Dubai — a global hub for the perfume and luxury fragrance trade — is expected to draw sustained attention to Assam's potential in the international aromatic products market. This comes amid a broader government effort to connect Northeast Indian producers with overseas buyers and move regional speciality products beyond conventional domestic markets. The shipment adds momentum to what officials describe as a structured push to establish Assam-origin agarwood as a recognised brand in global trade circuits.
What's Next
With over 50,000 farmers and workers associated with the sector, further export growth could deepen livelihoods and incentivise organised supply chains from cultivation through to processing. Industry observers note that sustained market access — particularly in high-value Gulf and East Asian markets — will be key to realising the sector's full economic potential for Assam's rural communities.
Point of View
Yet the sector has historically punched well below its weight in global trade, losing ground to processed exports from Southeast Asia. The real test of CM Sarma's export push is whether the Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy can move farmers up the value chain — from raw chips to processed oils and finished fragrance ingredients — where margins are exponentially higher. A single consignment to Dubai is a start; a sustained presence in the Gulf's luxury fragrance ecosystem requires certified supply chains, consistent quality grading, and brand-building that state policy alone cannot deliver.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is agarwood and why is it valuable?
Agarwood is a fragrant resinous wood formed in certain trees of the genus Aquilaria and is used in perfumes, incense, essential oils, and luxury aromatic products. It commands very high commercial value globally, particularly in Gulf, East Asian, and European markets.
How much agarwood did Assam export to Dubai?
Assam exported 123 kg of agarwood chips to Dubai, a shipment highlighted by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 28 October 2026 as a step forward for the state's international trade ambitions.
What share of India's agarwood does Assam produce?
According to the Chief Minister's Office, Assam accounts for approximately 81 per cent of India's total agarwood resources, making it by far the country's dominant producer.
How many people depend on Assam's agarwood sector?
More than 50,000 farmers and workers are associated with agarwood cultivation, processing, and related activities in Assam, making the sector a significant rural livelihood source in the state.
What is the Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy?
The Assam Agarwood Promotion Policy is a state government initiative designed to encourage organised cultivation, value addition, and market access — both domestic and international — for agarwood growers and businesses in Assam.
