The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has approved Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati as an authorised export point for agarwood oil, chips and allied products.
The notification, dated 30 October, amends the export policy under Chapter 12 of Schedule II of the ITC (HS) Export Policy, 2022, enabling direct international shipments from Assam.
The amendment modifies Note 3 of the Export Licensing Notes whilst retaining existing export points. Exports from Guwahati will remain subject to all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, including permits under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and restricted export licences issued by the DGFT.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had highlighted earlier in October that the absence of direct export recognition at Guwahati Airport had long created logistical challenges for local trade.
The formal approval is expected to streamline shipments and eliminate major bottlenecks for the state’s agarwood sector.
The sector supports more than 50,000 farmers and workers across Assam, particularly in Golaghat district, where agarwood cultivation thrives under the One District One Product initiative.
Agarwood, known as Oud, is amongst the world’s most expensive natural aromatic resources, highly valued in luxury perfumes, incense and traditional products across Gulf nations, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Industry stakeholders believe the organised export framework could unlock a potential Rs 50,000 crore market for Assam if cultivation, processing and exports are scaled up systematically.
