Aquilaria malaccensis is commonly known as agarwood and locally referred to as karas. This tree species belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family. The distribution of the species spans across several countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, Singapore and the Philippines. Aquilaria malaccensis is a widespread species that inhabits a range of forest types in Peninsular Malaysia such as lowland dipterocarp forests, semi-freshwater swamp forests, and coastal hill forests.
Agarwood trees can grow up to 40 metres tall and feature an irregular crown. The trunk is smooth and has outer bark that peels, ranging from dark to pale grey in colour. The leaves are arranged alternately, with stalks that support thin, leathery blades. These leaf blades are oval-oblong to oblong-lance-shaped, measuring 6–12 cm in length and 1.9–5.5 cm in width. They have fine, parallel veinlets and long, pointed tips (NPark Flora Fauna, 2026). Pern et al. (2018) described A. malaccensis fruits as pear-shaped, measuring approximately 4.0 cm by 2.5 cm. The capsule has a blunt apex and a rounded base, attached on a persistent calyx tube. The calyx lobes triangle in shape and can measure up to 1 cm in width. The surface of the capsule is wrinkled and velvety while the calyx tube is slender, reaching lengths of up to 1.5 cm and connected to a stalk that is 0.5 cm long.
Agarwood is a highly valuable aromatic wood mainly traded in different forms such as wood, wood chips, powder and oil which are derived from its resinous and fragrant heartwood. The agarwood is used in medicinal products, perfumes, cosmetics and more. According to Burkill (1966), in Malaysia, agarwood is mixed with coconut oil as a liniment and in a boiled concoction to treat rheumatism and other body pain. Chakrabarty et al. (1994) reported that the often-discarded uninfected wood is used as kayu gaharu lempong by Malaysians to treat jaundice and body pain. Perfumes made of agarwood essential oils have high demand in Asia and the Middle East. For example, attar is a water-based perfume oil containing agarwood oil, which Muslims apply on prayer clothes (Yaacob, 1999).
Agarwood is known as the most expensive wood in the world. Top-grade agarwood can fetch up to USD 100,000/kg, with the Middle East and Africa, East Asia, and Southeast Asia contributing to an estimated 75% of current agarwood chip sales (Ash, 2020). According to Persistence Market Research (2026), the global market for agarwood chips is expected to grow from its estimated US$47.4 billion in 2026 to US$81.8 billion in 2033.
The demand for agarwood currently far exceeds the available supply. Thus, plantations are being established to meet consumer demands. Unfortunately, plantations may be effective in terms of cultivation of the tree but the resin produced is of lesser quality compared to wild sources (Devi, 2021). To worsen the supply situation, illegal harvesting of the trees from the wild populations continuously threatens the survival of the species (Chua et al., 2016).
CITES (2004) reported that international trade in Aquilaria species has been regulated under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). A conservation action plan (CAP) for the Aquilaria malaccensis species in Peninsular Malaysia was published in 2016 representing a significant effort. The goal of the action plan is to guarantee that future harvesting does not continue to threaten the survival of this species as well as other Aquilaria species in Malaysia (Chua et al., 2016). Aquilaria malaccensis was listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2018 (Harvey-Brown, 2018).
