What it is
Thin round sticks made from bamboo slivers; the core on which incense paste is rolled.
By length (8 to 12 inch common) and diameterMachine-made round sticks and hand-split sticks
Where India produces it
- MaharashtraGadchiroli
Gadchiroli Agarbatti Project, a women-led stick and agarbatti unit network started in 2012.
- KarnatakaMysuru
Mysore Agarbathi is a registered GI; the district is a major incense hub.
Where imports come from
Imports were cut after policy changes: raw batti moved from free to restricted in August 2019 and duty on round sticks was raised uniformly to 25% in June 2020.
- China — US$ 9.39 million of imports under HS 442191 in 2025-26.
Rules before you buy or sell
- Import of raw agarbatti is 'restricted' (since August 2019); round bamboo sticks attract 25% import duty (since June 2020).
- The National Bamboo Mission runs an online mapping platform for agarbatti stick units.
Storage and handling
Dry sticks fully and store in bundles in a dry room; damp sticks get fungus.
Businesses that use it
Agarbatti (Incense Stick) Making →Agarbatti (Incense Stick) Rolling Unit →Bamboo Sticks for Agarbatti →Dhoop Batti Making →