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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-08-23 Origin: Site
Okoume wood, scientifically known as Aucoumea klaineana, is a commercially vital timber from West and Central Africa. Often mislabeled as "African Mahogany," Okoume has its own unique set of properties that make it a superior choice for specific industries, particularly in the marine plywood and veneer sectors.
This report serves as an authoritative guide for professionals, highlighting Okoume's key attributes, ideal applications, and its strategic position in the global timber market.
Okoume's scientific name, Aucoumea klaineana, is crucial for proper identification. It belongs to the Burseraceae family, which is distinct from the Meliaceae family of true mahoganies (Khaya spp.).
Common Names: Gaboon, Angouma, and N'Kumi.
The Misconception: Calling Okoume "African Mahogany" is a common marketing practice that exploits the reputation of true mahogany. This can lead to significant material selection errors due to the vast differences in properties like hardness and density.
Source: Okoume is primarily sourced from Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Congo.
Conservation Status: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists Okoume as "Vulnerable." This status makes sustainable sourcing and legal compliance a critical factor for buyers. Look for FSC or PEFC certifications to ensure responsible procurement.
Okoume’s value is defined by its unique physical and mechanical characteristics, which are perfectly suited for certain applications.
Color and Grain: The heartwood has a distinctive pinkish hue that darkens with age. Its narrow, grayish-white sapwood is clearly defined. The grain is typically straight, with a fine and uniform texture, making it highly prized for veneer production.
Lightweight & Strength: With a low air-dried density of approximately 430 kg/m³, Okoume is exceptionally lightweight. This gives it an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, a key benefit in applications where weight is a critical factor.
Hardness: Okoume has a low Janka hardness of just 400 lbf, classifying it as a softwood. This makes it unsuitable for high-wear areas like flooring.
Machinability: Okoume is easy to work with both hand and machine tools. However, its silica content (0.12% to 0.16%) can dull cutting blades quickly. Professionals often use specialized carbide-tipped tools to manage this abrasion.
Durability: Naturally, Okoume has low durability (Class 4), making it susceptible to fungi, termites, and wood-boring insects. This is where its strength lies: it's highly receptive to treatments.
Engineered Durability: Okoume's ability to be easily treated with sealants and oils is a major advantage. This engineered durability is what allows it to be used in demanding, moisture-prone environments like boat building.
Okoume's properties make it the undisputed market leader in several key sectors.
Over 80% of Okoume timber is used for plywood. Its uniform structure and knot-free nature make it ideal for rotary cutting into large, aesthetically pleasing veneers.
This is Okoume's most famous application. Its lightweight nature, strength-to-weight ratio, and ability to be easily bent and treated make it the ideal material for BS-1088 marine plywood. This type of plywood is used for building boat hulls, kayaks, canoes, and other watercraft.
Okoume is gaining traction as a "tonewood" for electric guitar bodies. Its tonal properties are often compared to mahogany, but with a unique sound profile that includes a warm midrange and bright, dynamic high end. This makes it an attractive and more affordable alternative.
Okoume's fine texture and minimal color variation make it a popular choice for high-quality furniture, interior paneling, and cabinetry.
To avoid costly procurement mistakes, it's essential to understand how Okoume differs from similar-looking or named timbers.
While both are from Africa, their properties are fundamentally different.
Sapele Hardness: A Janka hardness of 1410 lbf, making it much harder and more durable than Okoume (400 lbf).
Best Use: Sapele is best for high-traffic flooring, dense furniture, and architectural millwork. Okoume is best for lightweight structures and veneers.
Bintangor is a commercial name for multiple species from Southeast Asia.
Consistency: Okoume's properties are highly consistent, while Bintangor's density and hardness can vary widely (400-900 kg/m³).
Risk: This variability makes Okoume a more reliable choice for large-scale, standardized production where consistent material properties are critical.
Comparative Table: Okoume, Sapele, and Bintangor
| Property | Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana) | Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) | Bintangor (Calophyllum spp.) |
| Origin | West & Central Africa | West & Central Africa | Southeast Asia |
| Air-Dry Density | 430 kg/m³ | 640-670 kg/m³ | 400-900 kg/m³ |
| Janka Hardness | 400 lbf | 1410 lbf | 1040-1475 lbf |
| Durability (Fungi) | Low (Class 4) | Moderate | Moderate (Class 3) |
| Workability | Easy, but tools dull | Difficult, prone to tear-out | Moderate, prone to fuzziness |
| Primary Use | Plywood, veneers, marine wood | Flooring, high-end furniture | Plywood, furniture, joinery |
When sourcing Okoume, prioritize legal and sustainable practices.
Certifications: Always look for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) labels. These third-party certifications guarantee the wood comes from responsibly managed forests.
Supply Chain: Work with suppliers who can provide Timber Legality Assurance Systems (TLAS) documentation, which verifies the wood's legal origin. This helps mitigate risks associated with illegal logging and future trade restrictions.
Okoume is a high-performance material whose value is not in imitation but in its unique attributes. Its lightweight nature, superior rotary-cutting properties, and cost-effectiveness have made it indispensable for plywood, veneers, and specialized applications like marine wood. By understanding its distinct properties and avoiding common marketing misnomers, professionals can leverage Okoume to its full potential for a wide range of projects.
