Wholesale African Padouk Wood: Vivid Red Exotic Hardwood for Flooring, Furniture and Turning
Looking to buy African Padouk Wood direct from the source? African Padouk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) is instantly recognised by its brilliant orange-red colour. It is one of the most popular exotic hardwoods in the world for furniture, flooring, turning and musical instruments.
Padouk is also very durable and very stable, with a Janka hardness of about 1,970 lbf. This rare combination of colour, hardness and stability means African Padouk wood performs as well on a terrace or boat deck as it does in a luxury interior.
We supply African Padouk wood as kiln-dried boards, slabs, flitches, turning blanks and decorative veneer from legally managed, ethically harvested forest concessions in Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and DR Congo. Every order is inspected, documented and shipped in containers to your port, warehouse or job site.
Technical Specifications of African Padouk Wood
The figures below are typical values for African Padouk wood and help engineers, architects and buyers check that the timber meets their project requirements. Independent species data is also available from the CIRAD Tropix tropical timber database.
| Property | African Padouk Wood |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pterocarpus soyauxii |
| Botanical Family | Fabaceae |
| Other Trade Names | African Padauk, Barwood, Mbel, Mbe, Corail |
| Origin (Central Africa) | Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and DR Congo |
| Density | 720–750 kg/m³ (45–47 lbs/ft³) at 12% MC |
| Janka Hardness | 1,970 lbf (8,760 N) |
| Natural Durability | Very durable (EN 350 class 1) |
| Stability | Small movement; one of the most stable exotic hardwoods |
| Colour and Grain | Vivid orange-red to coral red when freshly cut, maturing to a deep reddish-brown |
| CITES / Legal Status | Listed in CITES Appendix II (African populations of Pterocarpus, in force since 2023). Every export ships with a CITES export permit. |
| Price Unit | Per cubic metre (m³) |
Why Buyers Choose African Padouk Wood
Importers, manufacturers and contractors choose African Padouk wood for a clear set of practical reasons:
- Unique Natural Colour: No stain can match the vivid red of fresh Padouk, which gives products instant premium appeal.
- Very Stable: Low shrinkage makes it ideal for flooring, tabletops and precision work.
- Highly Durable: Padouk resists rot and insects, so it can be used outdoors and in wet areas.
- Excellent for Turning: It turns and machines cleanly, which is why turners and knife makers love it.
Buy African Padouk Wood for Flooring, Furniture and Decorative Work
When you buy African Padouk Wood from Global Timber Trade Hub, you can order stock graded and dimensioned for the following applications:
1. Flooring and Decking
Padouk flooring and decking boards stay flat and resist wear and decay.
2. Luxury Furniture and Inlays
Padouk is used for accent furniture, inlay strips, marquetry and contrasting borders.
3. Musical Instruments
Its tone and stability make it popular for marimba bars, drum shells and guitar parts.
4. Turnery, Handles and Gifts
Bowls, pens, knife scales and tool handles are popular high-margin uses.
Available African Padouk Wood Sizes, Grades and Product Forms
We hold standard Padouk specifications and can cut to your project list. Typical product forms include:
| Product Form | Typical Sizes | Main Uses | Drying & Packing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiln-Dried Boards (FAS) | 25–75 mm (1"–3") thick, random widths | Furniture, flooring, instruments | KD 8–12% MC, wrapped bundles |
| Slabs and Flitches | 50–100 mm (2"–4") thick, custom widths | Table tops, counters, bars | Individually wrapped or crated |
| Turning and Instrument Blanks | Custom sizes on request | Turnery, knife scales, guitar parts | Waxed ends, boxed |
| Decorative Veneer | 0.6 mm and thicker, to order | Panels, doors, yacht interiors | Bundled flitches, boxed |
Custom thicknesses, widths, lengths and cut-to-size orders are available on request. Log exports are supplied only from countries and concessions where national law allows them.
Drying, Grading and Quality Control
Exotic boards are kiln dried to 8–12% moisture content and hand-selected for colour and figure. Slabs are air dried and then kiln finished on request. Before loading, each parcel of Padouk is checked for moisture content, dimensions, heartwood, grain and defects, and you receive loading photos and a packing list with the volume of every bundle.
Working With African Padouk Wood: Practical Tips
- Colour Change: The bright orange-red darkens to brown with light exposure. UV-resistant finishes slow this change.
- Dust and Colour Transfer: Red dust can stain lighter woods. Clean surfaces and collect dust when combining woods.
- Machining: Padouk machines well with sharp tools and gives crisp edges.
- Gluing: It glues well. Wipe oily surfaces with acetone before gluing.
Ethically Harvested African Padouk Wood From the Central African Forest Zone
All of our Padouk comes from the Congo Basin forest zone, the second-largest tropical forest on earth. We buy only from operators that hold valid forest management or harvesting permits and follow national minimum felling diameters, so mature trees are selected and younger trees are left to grow.
Legal status: Listed in CITES Appendix II (African populations of Pterocarpus, in force since 2023). Every export ships with a CITES export permit. You can check any species on the official CITES Checklist.
Each shipment can include a certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, legality and chain-of-custody documents, fumigation certificate where required, and a CITES export permit for listed species. This supports your due diligence under the EU Timber and Deforestation Regulations (EUTR/EUDR), the UK Timber Regulation and the US Lacey Act. FSC or PEFC certified volumes can be quoted on request, subject to availability.
How to Buy African Padouk Wood in Bulk
- Send your enquiry: Tell us the product form, sizes, grade, volume and destination port for your Padouk order.
- Receive a quotation: We confirm price, availability, lead time and Incoterms (FOB Douala, Kribi, Owendo or Pointe-Noire, or CFR/CIF to your port).
- Approve specifications: We share stock photos, moisture readings and, for larger orders, samples.
- Production and loading: Timber is cut, dried, inspected and loaded, with photos and container numbers sent to you.
- Shipping and documents: You receive the bill of lading and all export documents for customs clearance.
About the price: the price shown on this page is an indicative starting price per cubic metre (m³) for standard sawn Padouk. Final pricing depends on grade, dimensions, drying, volume and destination. Typical container loads are 18–25 m³ of sawn timber per 20 ft container and 40–50 m³ per 40 ft container, and smaller trial orders are welcome.
Compare African Padouk Wood With Other African Hardwoods
Not sure if Padouk is the right species? Compare it with these related timbers from our catalogue:
Browse more species in Best Selling African Timber, Exotic & Decorative Hardwoods, or view the full African timber catalogue.
Frequently Asked Questions About African Padouk Wood
Does African Padouk stay red?
No. Padouk is bright orange-red when cut and gradually darkens to a reddish-brown. A UV-inhibiting finish slows the change.
Is Padouk good for outdoor use?
Yes. Padouk is very durable (class 1) and very stable, so it works well for decking, garden furniture and boat trim.
Does Padouk need a CITES permit?
Yes. Since 2023 African Pterocarpus species are listed in CITES Appendix II, and we supply the export permit with every order.
What is the minimum order for Padouk?
Most buyers order one 20 ft or 40 ft container. We also accept mixed-species containers and smaller trial orders for Padouk, so you can test the quality before scaling up.
Which documents come with Padouk shipments?
Every shipment includes a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and phytosanitary certificate, plus legality documents and a CITES permit where the species requires it.
Get African Padouk Wood for Your Next Project
Ready to buy African Padouk Wood? Send us your sizes, grade and volume, and our timber team will reply with a clear quotation, available stock photos and shipping options.
Request a quote or contact our sales team today to place your order.
Wood sample photo: cs:User:Pernak, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.