Agar of Moulvibazar: Bangladesh Premium GI Agarwood — Buyer's Guide (2026)
Agar of Moulvibazar — Bangladesh's 2024 GI raw agarwood, resin-infected heartwood of Aquilaria malaccensis. Buyer's guide: sink-grade grading, CITES permits, HS 12119011/19, 8-point authenticity, incense & perfumery-raw-materials markets, USD 5000-25000/kg premium grade.
In our Agar Attar guide, we covered the distilled oudh oil that commands USD 50–150 per milliliter in Middle Eastern perfumery markets. But behind that oil lies a raw material that is itself a registered GI product: the Agar of Moulvibazar — the resin-infected heartwood of the Aquilaria malaccensis tree, grown and harvested in the Moulvibazar district of northeastern Bangladesh. While the Agar Attar GI registration covers the distilled oil, the 2024 "Agar of Moulvibazar" GI registration covers the raw agarwood itself — the chips, pieces, and powder that are either distilled into attar, burned directly as incense, or carved into premium decorative objects. For buyers in the incense, perfumery-raw-materials, and luxury-craft segments, authentic Moulvibazar agarwood is one of the world's most valuable natural raw materials by weight.
This guide is for international incense manufacturers, perfumery-raw-materials buyers, luxury-craft manufacturers, and aromatic-products distributors sourcing authentic Agar of Moulvibazar (raw agarwood) directly from verified Bangladeshi suppliers. We'll cover the 2024 GI registration, the Moulvibazar production region, the distinction between Agar (raw wood) and Agar Attar (distilled oil), quality grading, export markets, HS codes, CITES requirements, packaging, authenticity verification, and direct sourcing from verified agriculture suppliers on BangladeshExport.com.
📜 Agar vs. Agar Attar — Understanding the Distinction
Buyers can verify the official list of Bangladesh's registered Geographical Indication (GI) products through the Bangladesh Trade Portal: bangladeshtradeportal.gov.bd — GI Products Page
The distinction between "Agar of Moulvibazar" and "Agar Attar of Moulvibazar" is important for buyers to understand — they are two separate GI registrations covering two different products from the same source material. Agar of Moulvibazar (registered 2024) covers the raw resin-infected heartwood — the physical wood chips, pieces, blocks, and powder that are harvested from Aquilaria trees. Agar Attar of Moulvibazar (also registered 2024, covered in our separate guide) covers the distilled essential oil produced by hydro-distilling the raw agarwood. Both products originate from the same trees and the same Moulvibazar region, but they serve different buyer segments and use different HS codes.
Raw agarwood has three primary end-uses: (1) Direct burning as incense — particularly in Middle Eastern, Japanese, and Chinese incense traditions where agarwood chips are heated on charcoal to release the aromatic resin. (2) Hydro-distillation into Agar Attar (oudh oil) — the process described in our Agar Attar guide. (3) Carving into decorative objects — premium sink-grade agarwood is sometimes carved into beads, bracelets, and decorative sculptures by luxury-craft manufacturers. Each end-use requires different grades of raw agarwood.
🏛️ GI Registration & the Moulvibazar Production Region
Agar of Moulvibazar was registered as a Bangladesh GI product in 2024 by DPDT — alongside the related Agar Attar registration. The production region is Moulvibazar district in the Sylhet division — the same region covered by the Agar Attar GI. The registration covers raw agarwood (resin-infected heartwood of Aquilaria malaccensis and related Aquilaria species) harvested in the registered region. See our GI verification guide and the complete 60-product GI list for broader context.
🌲 Quality Grading — Sink Grade to Karas
| Grade | Resin Content | Physical Test | End-Use | Retail Range (USD/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sink Grade (Premium) | Very high (>30% resin) | Sinks in water | Direct burning, luxury carving | 5,000–25,000 |
| High-Resin Floating | High (15–30% resin) | Floats, visibly dark | Distillation, premium incense | 1,500–5,000 |
| Mid-Resin | Medium (5–15% resin) | Floats, partially dark | Standard distillation | 500–1,500 |
| Karas (Low-Resin) | Low (<5% resin) | Floats, light colored | Lower-grade distillation | 100–500 |
The "sink grade" test is the traditional and most reliable quick assessment of resin content — high-resin agarwood is denser than water and sinks, while low-resin wood floats. Premium sink-grade agarwood can retail at USD 5,000–25,000 per kilogram — making it one of the most valuable natural raw materials by weight in the world.
🌍 Export Markets
- Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia): Largest market for incense-grade agarwood chips. Direct burning of agarwood on charcoal is a deep-rooted cultural practice. Retail USD 1,000–15,000/kg depending on grade.
- Japan: Premium koh-doh (incense-listening ceremony) market. Japanese buyers pay the highest per-kg prices for sink-grade. Retail USD 5,000–25,000/kg.
- EU & USA: Perfumery-raw-materials buyers sourcing for distillation. Wholesale USD 500–5,000/kg.
- China: Growing market for agarwood beads and decorative carving. Retail USD 2,000–10,000/kg for carving-grade.
🏷️ HS Codes & CITES Requirements
| HS Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 12119011 | Plants or parts used in perfumery, nes (wrapped/canned up to 2.5 kg) — retail pack |
| 12119019 | Plants or parts used in perfumery, nes (excl. wrapped/canned up to 2.5 kg) — bulk |
CITES mandatory: All international Agarwood/Aquilaria trade requires CITES export permits (Bangladesh CITES Management Authority) and CITES import permits (destination country). Allow 2–4 weeks for CITES processing. CITES non-compliance results in shipment seizure. See our HS code directory for full tariff details.
📦 Packaging & Shipping
Raw agarwood is packed in sealed food-grade plastic bags within rigid cardboard boxes. Premium sink-grade wood is individually wrapped. Air freight mandatory (high per-kg value, CITES permit time-sensitivity). Documentation: Certificate of Origin (Moulvibazar Chamber), DPDT GI registration, CITES export permit, phytosanitary certificate, packing list, commercial invoice. See our export documentation guide.
✅ Authenticity Verification
Eight-point checklist: (1) sink test — premium grade sinks in water; (2) resin visibility — dark resin-infused streaks visible in the wood grain; (3) aroma test — heating a small chip releases the distinctive complex agarwood fragrance (woody-sweet-balsamic); (4) density — high-resin wood feels heavy for its size; (5) CITES documentation — mandatory for all legal agarwood trade; (6) DPDT GI registration certificate; (7) Moulvibazar production-region documentation; (8) for premium grades, GC-MS analysis of a distilled sample confirms the characteristic agarwood chemical markers. See our GI verification guide.
🤝 Sourcing Verified Agarwood Suppliers
- Browse verified agriculture suppliers: View 709 verified Agriculture & Agro suppliers — filter for agarwood/agar specialists.
- Post a free RFQ: Submit a Request for Quotation specifying "Agar of Moulvibazar" with grade (Sink / High-Resin / Mid / Karas), form (chips / pieces / powder / blocks), quantity, target price, and destination. Verified suppliers respond within 24–72 hours.
- Check supplier credentials: Verify CITES export permit history, DPDT GI registration, Moulvibazar Chamber membership. Request GC-MS analysis for premium grades.
- Order a sample: For new suppliers, order 50–200g of raw agarwood as a sample. Conduct sink test, aroma test, and visual inspection before placing a bulk order.
- Finalize directly: L/C or escrow for orders over USD 5,000. Allow 2–4 weeks for CITES processing. No commission.
If you're a Moulvibazar agarwood cultivator, harvester, or trader: register as a supplier on BangladeshExport.com (free) and upload your DPDT GI registration and CITES permit documentation. Relevant industry support: Moulvibazar Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the broader Bangladesh exporters' association directory.
🚀 Source Authentic Moulvibazar Agarwood — Free RFQ
Post a free RFQ for authentic Agar of Moulvibazar (raw agarwood) from verified suppliers. Specify grade, form, quantity, and destination — verified suppliers respond within 24–72 hours. CITES permit processing requires 2–4 weeks.
🚀 Post a Free RFQ → 🔍 Browse 709 Verified Agriculture Suppliers🎯 Conclusion
Agar of Moulvibazar is the raw material behind one of the world's most valuable natural perfume products — and it is itself a legally protected GI product. For buyers in incense manufacturing, perfumery raw materials, or luxury craft, authentic Moulvibazar agarwood offers a value proposition that few natural materials can match: 400-year Moulvibazar heritage, CITES-compliant sustainable sourcing, GI legal protection, and a market where premium sink-grade wood retails at USD 5,000–25,000 per kilogram. BangladeshExport.com makes sourcing free, transparent, and built on multi-source verification — start with a free RFQ today.
For the complete catalog of 60+ Bangladesh GI products, see our complete GI products list. For the distilled oil made from this wood, see our Agar Attar guide. For broader context, see our 2026 global demand analysis.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Agar of Moulvibazar and Agar Attar of Moulvibazar?
They are two separate GI registrations covering two different products from the same source. "Agar of Moulvibazar" (2024 GI) covers the raw resin-infected heartwood — the physical wood chips, pieces, and powder harvested from Aquilaria trees. "Agar Attar of Moulvibazar" (2024 GI) covers the distilled essential oil (oudh oil) produced by hydro-distilling the raw agarwood. Both originate from the same Moulvibazar region and the same Aquilaria trees, but serve different buyer segments (incense/perfumery-raw-materials vs. perfumery-oil) and use different HS codes (12119011/19 for raw wood vs. 33012900 for distilled oil).
What is "sink grade" agarwood?
Sink grade is the highest quality grade of raw agarwood, determined by the traditional "sink test" — premium high-resin agarwood is denser than water and sinks when placed in water. Lower-resin wood floats. The sink test is a quick physical assessment of resin content: wood with >30% resin content typically sinks, while wood with <15% resin floats. Sink-grade agarwood commands the highest prices (USD 5,000–25,000/kg) because it has the highest concentration of the aromatic resin compounds.
What is the HS code for raw agarwood exports?
Raw agarwood uses HS codes 12119011 (plants/parts used in perfumery, retail pack up to 2.5 kg) and 12119019 (plants/parts used in perfumery, bulk). Distilled agarwood oil (Agar Attar) uses HS 33012900 (essential oils). All international Agarwood/Aquilaria trade additionally requires CITES permits.
How do I verify that agarwood is authentic?
Eight-point checklist: (1) sink test for premium grade; (2) visible dark resin streaks in wood grain; (3) aroma test (heat a small chip); (4) density (heavy for size); (5) CITES documentation; (6) DPDT GI registration; (7) Moulvibazar production-region documentation; (8) GC-MS analysis for premium grades.
What is the MOQ for raw agarwood?
MOQ is typically 100–500g for premium sink-grade, 500g–5kg for mid-grade, and 5–50kg for lower-grade karas wood. CITES permit processing adds 2–4 weeks to lead time. Samples of 50–200g are common for first-time buyer verification.
Where can I find verified agarwood suppliers?
BangladeshExport.com hosts 709 verified Agriculture & Agro suppliers. Post a free RFQ specifying "Agar of Moulvibazar" and verified agarwood suppliers will respond within 24–72 hours.