Characteristics

African timbers
Asian and Oceanian timbers
Central and South American timbers

African timbers

The number of timber species harvested in production forests in Africa has grown in recent years, especially near seaports or major local markets, where prime species have been largely logged out. Nevertheless, a handful of species still makes up the bulk of production: in the Central African Republic, for example, loggers harvest 15 to 18 timber species, and five species make up 90 per cent of production; in northern Congo, 18 to 20 species are harvested, but five species account for nearly 80 per cent of production. Major tropical log species exported from Africa include okoumé, sapelli, ayous/obeché, limba/fraké, tali, padouk, moabi, sipo and teak (planted). African woods converted into plywood and veneers include okoumé, ayous/obeché, limba and makoré. Together with abura, iroko, ekki and niangon, they are also made into sawnwood for use in construction. The highest quality decorative veneers and sawnwood are made from mahogany, sapelli/sapele, wengé, afrormosia, sipo and selected logs of other species.

Source: International Tropical Timber Organization. Status of Tropical Forest Management 2005. ITTO Technical Series No. 24, 2006.

Individual data sheets for species (emphasis on physical and mechanical properties, processing characteristics and uses) are available for downloading or viewing online:

Tropix - African Woods. Developed by the "Production and Processing of Tropical Woods" research unit of Cirad - Forestry Department. Click on a species name to access a data sheet.

Martin Chudnoff. Tropical Timbers of the World. Africa. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. Madison, Wis.: USDA, 1979. View pdf (2.45 MB).

Compiled under the FORAFRI programme:

Mapaga D., Inguéza D. and Louppe D., 2002. Okoumé. Forafri and IRAF, Libreville, Gabon and Cirad-forêt, Montpellier, France: 6 p. (Pdf 21.8 MB)

Mapaga D., Inguéza D. and Louppe D., 2002. Moabi. Forafri and IRAF, Libreville, Gabon and Cirad-forêt, Montpellier, France: 4 p. (Pdf 12.8 MB)

Palla F. and Louppe D., 2002. Obéché. Forafri, Libreville, Gabon and Cirad-forêt, Montpellier, France: 6 p. (Pdf 15 MB)

Palla F., Louppe D. and Doumenge C., 2002. Azobé. Forafri, Libreville, Gabon and Cirad-forêt, Montpellier, France: 4 p. (Pdf 12.5 MB)

Palla F., Louppe D. and Forni E., 2002. Sapelli. Forafri, Libreville, Gabon and Cirad-forêt, Montpellier, France: 4 p. (Pdf 16.4 MB)

J. Gérard, A. Edi Kouassi, C. Daigremont, P. Détienne, D. Fouquet, M.Vernay. Synthèse sur les caractéristiques technologiques de référence des principaux bois commerciaux africains. Document Forafri, 11. Montpellier, France: Cirad, 1998. View pdf (838 KB).

Asian and Oceanian timbers

The market for Asian tropical timber is concentrated on a small number of species: dark red meranti/seraya/lauan (primarily as sawn timber, particularly for the window industry); ramin (sawn timber, mostly sold for mouldings and frames); teak (with the main demand from veneer manufacturers). Other species have more recently been traded in increasing volumes, including keruing, balau (mainly used for structural purposes in construction) and merbau (mostly for windows and parquet).

Source: International Tropical Timber Organization. Status of Tropical Forest Management 2005. ITTO Technical Series No. 24, 2006.

Individual data sheets for species are available for downloading or viewing online:

Tropix - Asian and Oceanian woods. Developed by the "Production and Processing of Tropical Woods" research unit of Cirad - Forestry Department. Click on a species name to access a data sheet.

Martin Chudnoff. Tropical Timbers of the World. South-East Asia and Oceania. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. Madison, Wis.: USDA, 1979. View pdf (2.79 MB).

The Database of Properties of South-East Asian Timbers (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute - Japan).

Central and South American timbers

Source: International Tropical Timber Organization. Status of Tropical Forest Management 2005. ITTO Technical Series No. 24, 2006.

Individual data sheets for species are available for downloading or viewing online:

Tropix - South American woods. Developed by the "Production and Processing of Tropical Woods" research unit of Cirad - Forestry Department. Click on a species name to access a data sheet.

Martin Chudnoff. Tropical Timbers of the World. Tropical America. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. Madison, Wis.: USDA, 1979. View pdf (5.64 MB).

For trade statistics by species, please refer to the Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation prepared by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). Major tropical species in trade, together with volumes and average prices, are summarized by country in Appendix 3. Details of species banned from export by individual countries are included in the Country Notes.

For a detailed analysis of main commercial species harvested in ITTO's producer member countries: International Tropical Timber Organization. Status of Tropical Forest Management 2005. ITTO Technical Series No 24, 2006 (country profiles).

Browse The World Timber Bank (a partnership between the CIRAD-Forêt and timberfocus.com) to retrieve information on specific timber species or providers.