**Most gaharu (agarwood) exporters set a minimum order quantity of about 1 kg for graded chip samples and 5-10 kg for a first commercial shipment, while oud oil trials usually start at 10-50 ml. Plan a plantation-chip budget of roughly USD 500-7,000 per kilogram, grade-dependent, as of 2026 and indicative.**
Minimum order quantity, or MOQ, is the first number Gulf buyers ask about, and it is rarely a single figure. It shifts with product form, grade, and whether you want a test lot or a full container. The Indonesian local term matters too: buyers hear gaharu (the wood), gubal (the dense resinous heartwood), and kemedangan (the lighter transition wood) quoted at very different MOQs. This wave-1 guide maps the typical tiers so a Riyadh, Dubai, or Doha buyer can size a trial before requesting a firm quote.
What counts as a minimum order quantity in gaharu export?
MOQ is the smallest lot a supplier will grade, pack, and clear for export. Because gaharu spans raw chips, sorted export grades, powder, and distilled oud oil, each form carries its own floor. Sample lots exist to let a buyer verify resin content, sinking behaviour, and aroma before committing capital, so they sit well below commercial quantities.
| Product form | Typical sample MOQ | First commercial MOQ | Indicative price band (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plantation chips (gubal / kemedangan) | ~1 kg | 5-10 kg | USD 500-7,000/kg, grade-dependent |
| Sorted export-grade chips | 1-3 kg | 10-25 kg | see grade examples below |
| Oud / agarwood oil | 10-50 ml | 250 g-1 kg | USD 30,000-80,000/kg |
| Powder / abu (by-product) | 5-10 kg | 25-50 kg | low, by-product pricing |
These floors are typical broker practice, not a fixed rule; a supplier holding limited high-grade stock may release smaller premium lots, while a plantation clearing a harvest may prefer larger commercial batches to justify the paperwork.
How much should a Gulf buyer budget for a first trial order?
The honest answer is that grade drives everything, so a trial can cost a few hundred dollars or several thousand for the same weight. Buyers planning to export to Middle East destinations should budget by grade tier rather than by weight alone. The export-grade list published by zonakeren.com in July 2025 gives useful anchors in USD per kilogram: AB Super around 5,469; Sabak Ulir around 2,735; Arab Super around 1,954; and the entry-level CIP Arab around 547. Middle East buyer
For a sense of retail-end pricing, a 2025 Saudi example put 1 gram of chips at about Rp 390,000 and a 66-gram lot at roughly Rp 25.8 million, far above bulk export rates because it reflects consumer packaging rather than wholesale sourcing.
| Trial scenario | Quantity | Grade example (zonakeren, Jul 2025) | Indicative chip cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry sample | 1 kg | CIP Arab, ~USD 547/kg | ~USD 550 |
| Gulf-standard trial | 2 kg | Arab Super, ~USD 1,954/kg | ~USD 3,900 |
| Premium trial | 1 kg | AB Super, ~USD 5,469/kg | ~USD 5,500 |
| Oil micro-trial | 10-50 ml | niche oud oil | Rp 5-30 million per 10 ml |
Treat these as illustrative, dated 2026 references; a final quote confirms grade and scope. Freight, insurance, and permit costs sit on top of the chip price and are proportionally heavier on a small trial than on a container load.
Why is the oud oil minimum so much smaller than chips?
Oud oil is value-dense, so a few millilitres carry the weight of kilos of chips. Kumparan’s banjarhits desk, reporting from South Kalimantan, put high-quality agarwood oil at USD 20,000-50,000 per litre, driven by Middle East perfume and bakhoor demand. Tokolantaikayu.net, in May 2025, quoted niche oud oil at Rp 5-30 million per 10 ml. At those levels a 10 ml vial is already a meaningful commitment, which is why oil trials are measured in millilitres while chips move in kilograms.
Context helps the budgeting decision. Recent market reports place China at about 22.4% of the global agarwood market, with Asia-Pacific forecast as the fastest-growing region at roughly 47.8% share by 2033 and the overall market projected near USD 23.47 billion by 2033 at about 7.12% CAGR. Gulf demand competes for the same graded supply, so premium lots move quickly and small trial windows are normal.
What drives your minimum order up or down?
Several factors decide whether a supplier will flex the floor:
- Grade and resin content. Higher grades such as double super or Arab Super are scarcer, so suppliers release them in smaller, pricier lots.
- Plantation versus wild sourcing. Cultivated, inoculated plantation stock is easier to document for legal origin, which affects both MOQ and lead time. Illegal wild-harvest is never a legitimate route.
- CITES permit batching. A CITES export permit is valid for up to about six months and processing can take up to about 60 days for some destinations, so suppliers often consolidate orders to fit one permit window.
- Freight economics. Air freight suits small oil trials; sea freight rewards larger chip batches, nudging commercial MOQs upward.
- Buyer cash flow. A first-time Gulf buyer verifying quality will usually start at the sample tier, then scale once grading is confirmed.
Does a trial MOQ still trigger CITES paperwork?
Yes. Aquilaria spp. is listed on CITES Appendix II, so even a 1 kg trial crossing a border legally requires proving legal origin, typically via KLHK, a BKSDA (Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam) recommendation for wild-sourced material, ASGARIN membership, and a valid CITES export permit. This site is a sourcing broker and information hub, not a permit authority: it does not sell permit certainty or a customs guarantee. Legal export requires a CITES permit and a BKSDA recommendation, and buyers should confirm current requirements with the CITES Management Authority in Indonesia and their own import country. A vetted supplier plans the paperwork around your trial and typically returns a written, grade-specific quote within 24 business hours, plantation-first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order a small gaharu sample before committing to a full export MOQ?
Yes. Most Indonesian suppliers release graded sample lots from about 1 kg of chips or 10-50 ml of oil so buyers can verify resin content, sinking behaviour, and aroma first. Sample pricing follows the same grade-dependent band, roughly USD 500-7,000 per kilogram for plantation chips as of 2026, and usually sits outside bulk-discount tiers.
Is the minimum order for oud oil different from gaharu chips?
Usually yes. Oud oil is far denser in value, so trial minimums are measured in millilitres, often 10-50 ml, while chips move in kilograms. Kumparan’s banjarhits reporting put high-quality Kalimantan oil at USD 20,000-50,000 per litre, and tokolantaikayu.net quoted niche oud at Rp 5-30 million per 10 ml in May 2025, which keeps oil MOQs small.
Does a smaller minimum order still need a CITES permit?
Yes. Aquilaria is CITES Appendix II, so any cross-border shipment, even a 1 kg trial, legally requires a CITES export permit plus a BKSDA recommendation for wild-sourced material. Confirm current rules with the CITES Management Authority in Indonesia and your import country; this site is a broker and information hub, not a permit authority.