Ayous, also called obeche, wawa or samba, is one of the lightest and most affordable African hardwoods. It is pale, soft, very stable and easy to work, and it stays cool to the touch, which makes it the classic wood for sauna benches and interiors. It is also used for mouldings, painted joinery, picture frames, furniture parts, toys, model making and plywood cores. Because it is bought in large volumes for these uses, small differences in the ayous wood price make a big difference to manufacturers, so it pays to understand what drives it.
In this guide we set out typical FOB prices per cubic metre for the main ayous products, explain how grade, drying and profiling affect cost, show how much fits in a container, and give tips for buying efficiently. Prices are indicative starting points from our own quotes at Global Timber Trade Hub, where we supply ayous sawn in Cameroon and the Republic of Congo.
In short
- Kiln-dried sawn ayous starts from about $420 per m³ FOB.
- Clear, knot-free sauna grades and profiled boards cost more.
- Ayous is very light, so containers fill by volume, keeping freight per m³ low.
- A 40 ft container typically holds around 55–65 m³ of sawn ayous.
- It is not CITES listed, so paperwork is simple.
- For saunas, mouldings and painted joinery it is one of the best-value woods available.
Typical ayous prices
| Product | Typical spec | Indicative price (USD, FOB) |
|---|---|---|
| Sawn boards, KD | FAS or No. 1, 25–52 mm, random sizes | from $420 per m³ |
| Sauna grade, KD | Clear, knot-free, selected for colour | from about $520 per m³ |
| Profiled sauna boards | Tongue-and-groove, planed | from about $600 per m³ |
| Moulding blanks | Fixed sizes, KD | from about $500 per m³ |
| Lower grades | No. 2, short lengths, for cores and pallets | below standard board price |
These are starting points. Prices vary with specification, volume and stock. See our African hardwood prices for other species.
What is ayous?
Ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon) is a fast-growing, very large tree of West and Central Africa. Its wood is creamy white to pale yellow, with little difference between sapwood and heartwood, and a medium, even texture. It is light, around 350–450 kg per cubic metre when dry, soft and very stable once dried. It is not durable outdoors, so it is used indoors or protected. Read our obeche wood guide for more on the species.
Why ayous is affordable
Ayous trees are abundant and grow large, so harvest volumes are high and yields are good. The wood dries quickly and easily, which keeps kiln costs down. It machines with little tool wear. All of this keeps its price among the lowest of African hardwoods, while its stability and clean look make it valuable to manufacturers.
Grade and price
Grade has a big effect on ayous prices, especially for saunas. Sauna benches and backrests need clear, knot-free boards with no resin pockets or splits, because people sit on them with bare skin. These sauna grades cost more than standard FAS boards. For mouldings, picture frames and painted joinery, small defects may be acceptable or can be cut out, so standard grades offer better value. For plywood cores, pallets and hidden parts, lower grades are cheapest. See our hardwood lumber grades guide.
Ayous for saunas
Ayous is one of the most popular sauna woods in Europe. It has low thermal conductivity, so it stays comfortable to sit on at high temperatures, it is stable in heat and humidity changes, and it has no strong smell. Its pale colour gives a clean, bright look. Most sauna makers buy kiln-dried sauna grade boards, or profiled tongue-and-groove panelling and bench slats. See our best wood for a sauna guide.
Ayous for mouldings and joinery
Moulding factories value ayous because it machines cleanly, holds a profile and takes paint, stain and gilding well. It is common for skirting, architraves, picture frames, interior door parts and painted cabinet frames. Its light weight also makes it popular for lightweight furniture parts and shopfitting. See our best wood for wall panelling and best wood for cabinets guides.
Container loads and freight
Because ayous is so light, containers fill by volume, not weight. A 40 ft container usually holds around 55–65 m³ of sawn ayous, depending on board sizes and packing. That keeps freight cost per cubic metre low compared with heavy species. For buyers of heavy timber, adding ayous to a container is also a smart way to use the remaining space once the weight limit for the dense wood is reached. See how much timber fits in a 40 ft container.
From FOB to landed cost
Our prices are FOB at a Central African port. To estimate landed cost, add sea freight, insurance, destination charges, customs clearance, duties and delivery to your site. For ayous, freight is a larger share of the total than for expensive species, because the timber itself is cheap. On many European routes, freight and import costs can add 20–35% to the FOB value. Always compare quotes on the same Incoterm. See FOB vs CIF timber and timber shipping cost.
How ayous compares on price
| Species | From (USD/m³, FOB) | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Ilomba | $400 | Plywood, mouldings, cores |
| Ayous | $420 | Saunas, mouldings, painted joinery |
| Frake | $480 | Furniture parts, mouldings |
| Okoume | $520 | Plywood, boat building |
Ayous and frake are often used for similar jobs. Frake is a little harder and stronger; ayous is lighter and paler.
A worked example for a sauna maker
Consider a company that builds around fifty home saunas a year. A typical two-person sauna uses about 0.3 to 0.4 cubic metres of finished ayous for wall panelling, benches and backrests, and more for larger cabins. Allowing for waste and grading, the company needs perhaps 25 cubic metres of sauna grade boards a year, plus some standard grade for hidden frames. One 40 ft container a year, mixing sauna grade, standard boards and a small amount of a darker accent wood, covers its needs and gives the lowest freight per sauna. Because the timber is a small share of the final selling price of a sauna, paying a little more for clean, consistent sauna grade usually pays back in fewer rejects and happier customers.
Storage and handling
Ayous is light and soft, so it dents and marks easily. Handle bundles carefully, store them flat under cover, and keep them dry. Like other light woods, ayous can develop blue stain if it gets wet and stays warm, so kiln-dried stock must be kept dry until use. Good storage protects the clean look that makes ayous valuable.
Legal status
Ayous is not CITES listed. EU buyers must meet due diligence and EU deforestation regulation requirements, and US buyers must comply with the Lacey Act. We provide legal origin documents with each shipment. See our sustainability page.
Lead times and payment
Kiln-dried ayous boards are usually ready to load in 4–7 weeks. Profiled sauna boards and moulding blanks may take longer. For first orders, a letter of credit or a deposit with balance against copy documents protects both sides. See our letter of credit for timber guide.
How to get the best ayous price
- Buy sauna grade only for parts that touch skin; use standard grades elsewhere.
- Accept random widths and lengths where possible.
- Order full containers to spread freight.
- Combine ayous with heavier species to use container space efficiently.
- Plan regular orders for steadier prices.
Ayous for furniture, toys and models
Beyond saunas and mouldings, ayous has a long list of quieter uses where its lightness and even texture make life easy. Furniture factories use it for drawer sides, hidden frames, upholstered furniture frames and the cores of veneered panels, where weight matters and nobody sees the wood. Toy makers like it because it is light, smooth and takes non-toxic paints well. Model makers and pattern shops use it because it carves and sands cleanly and holds fine detail without splitting. Shopfitters and exhibition builders use it for light display units that must be moved and rebuilt often. In all these cases, the low price and good stability of ayous matter more than hardness or durability. If you are replacing poplar, spruce or pine in such products, ayous is worth trying: it is often more stable, has fewer knots and gives a cleaner finish, at a price that is competitive once you account for less waste.
Moisture content
For saunas, mouldings and interior joinery, order ayous kiln dried to about 8–12%, depending on your climate and production conditions. Let the timber settle in your workshop before machining. Because it dries easily, ayous rarely has drying defects, but wet or poorly stored stock can stain.
When you send an enquiry, tell us whether the ayous is for saunas, mouldings, furniture or cores, so we can suggest the most economical grade and sizes for your use.
Common mistakes
- Using ayous outdoors unprotected: it is not durable.
- Letting kiln-dried stock get wet: blue stain can follow.
- Paying sauna grade prices for hidden parts: standard grades will do.
- Ignoring freight share: for cheap timber, freight matters a lot.
Our honest advice
Ayous is a light, stable, affordable wood that does a few jobs extremely well: saunas, mouldings, painted joinery and lightweight parts. Buy the grade that matches each part, fill containers efficiently, and keep the timber dry. For outdoor or high-wear uses, choose a durable or harder species instead.
Sources
Related guides
- Okoume wood price
- Kiln dried vs air dried lumber
- Wholesale hardwood lumber
- Plywood and lightweight timber
- Buy ayous wood
Frequently asked questions about ayous wood price
How much does ayous cost per cubic metre?
Kiln-dried sawn ayous starts from about $420 per m³ FOB; sauna grades cost more.
Is ayous the same as obeche?
Yes. Ayous, obeche, wawa and samba are trade names for the same species.
How much ayous fits in a 40 ft container?
Usually around 55–65 m³, as the container fills by volume rather than weight.
Why is ayous good for saunas?
It stays cool to the touch, is stable in heat and has no strong smell.
Get an ayous price
Send us your grade, sizes, volume and destination through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price and lead time.