Wholesale African Wenge Wood: Dark, Dramatic Hardwood for Luxury Interiors
Looking to buy African Wenge Wood direct from the source? Wenge (Millettia laurentii) is the dark exotic hardwood behind many of the world’s most elegant interiors. Its near-black colour and fine, straight striping give a modern look that designers specify for flooring, furniture, kitchens and hotel fit-outs.
With a density of about 870 kg/m³ and a Janka hardness near 1,930 lbf, African Wenge wood is also hard-wearing. It is a premium species with limited supply, so it holds strong value in every market.
We supply African Wenge wood as kiln-dried boards, slabs, flitches, turning blanks and decorative veneer from legally managed, ethically harvested forest concessions in DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Every order is inspected, documented and shipped in containers to your port, warehouse or job site.
Technical Specifications of African Wenge Wood
The figures below are typical values for African Wenge 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 Wenge Wood |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Millettia laurentii |
| Botanical Family | Fabaceae |
| Other Trade Names | Wengé, Awong, Bokonge, Dikela |
| Origin (Central Africa) | DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea |
| Density | 830–870 kg/m³ (52–54 lbs/ft³) at 12% MC |
| Janka Hardness | 1,930 lbf (8,600 N) |
| Natural Durability | Durable (EN 350 class 2) |
| Stability | Medium movement; stable when properly kiln dried |
| Colour and Grain | Dark coffee-brown to almost black, with fine black veins and light parenchyma bands |
| CITES / Legal Status | Not listed under CITES. Listed as Endangered by the IUCN, so we supply limited volumes only from managed concessions with legality documents. |
| Price Unit | Per cubic metre (m³) |
Why Buyers Choose African Wenge Wood
Importers, manufacturers and contractors choose African Wenge wood for a clear set of practical reasons:
- Naturally Dark Colour: Wenge gives an ebony-like dark look without staining or dyeing.
- Hard and Wear Resistant: Its hardness and density make it suitable for heavy-traffic floors and stair treads.
- Distinctive Grain: Fine dark veins and straight striping give a contemporary, high-end appearance.
- Strong Market Value: Limited supply keeps Wenge in high demand among luxury manufacturers.
Buy African Wenge Wood for Luxury Flooring, Furniture and Interiors
When you buy African Wenge Wood from Global Timber Trade Hub, you can order stock graded and dimensioned for the following applications:
1. Luxury Flooring and Stairs
Wenge plank and parquet floors give a dramatic, premium interior.
2. Contemporary Furniture
Designers use Wenge for tables, cabinets, beds and accent pieces.
3. Wall Panelling and Veneer
Sliced Wenge veneer is used for doors, wall panels and yacht interiors.
4. Instrument Parts and Turnery
Guitar necks, fretboards, knife handles and turned items are popular uses.
Available African Wenge Wood Sizes, Grades and Product Forms
We hold standard Wenge 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 Wenge 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 Wenge Wood: Practical Tips
- Splinters: Wenge splinters easily and the splinters can irritate. Wear gloves when handling rough boards.
- Blunting: It is hard and coarse. Carbide tools give cleaner results.
- Open Grain: Fill the open pores before applying a high-gloss finish.
- Dust Safety: Use dust extraction and a mask, because Wenge dust can be a respiratory irritant.
Ethically Harvested African Wenge Wood From the Central African Forest Zone
All of our Wenge 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: Not listed under CITES. Listed as Endangered by the IUCN, so we supply limited volumes only from managed concessions with legality documents. 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 Wenge Wood in Bulk
- Send your enquiry: Tell us the product form, sizes, grade, volume and destination port for your Wenge 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 Wenge. 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 Wenge Wood With Other African Hardwoods
Not sure if Wenge 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 Wenge Wood
Why is Wenge expensive?
Wenge is slow growing, has a limited natural range and is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. Supply is controlled, which keeps prices high.
Is Wenge good for flooring?
Yes. Wenge is hard, dense and durable, which makes it an excellent luxury flooring species.
Can Wenge be used outdoors?
Wenge is durable, but it is usually used indoors because of its value. For exterior work we recommend Padouk, Iroko or Doussie.
What is the minimum order for Wenge?
Most buyers order one 20 ft or 40 ft container. We also accept mixed-species containers and smaller trial orders for Wenge, so you can test the quality before scaling up.
Which documents come with Wenge 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 Wenge Wood for Your Next Project
Ready to buy African Wenge 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: Philipp Zinger, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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