The United Kingdom has a long history with African hardwoods. Sapele, iroko, utile, African mahogany, opepe and ekki have built British windows, doors, staircases, boats, lock gates and sea defences for generations. Today, UK joinery firms, timber merchants, landscape contractors and furniture makers still rely on these species, and many are looking to buy more directly from source to control quality and cost. If you are searching for a hardwood timber supplier UK buyers can rely on for direct imports, this guide explains how the process works.
We cover the African species UK buyers order most, the UK rules on legal timber, CITES, ports and logistics, VAT and duties, documents, and how to place your first direct order. At Global Timber Trade Hub we export kiln-dried and air-dried African hardwoods from Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo to UK ports. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
In short
- Popular species for the UK include sapele, utile (sipo), iroko, opepe (bilinga), ekki (azobe) and okan.
- The UK Timber Regulations require operators to carry out due diligence on legality.
- CITES species such as afrormosia, doussie and padouk need permits.
- Main container ports include Felixstowe, Tilbury, Southampton and Liverpool.
- Import VAT applies; check duty rates for your commodity code.
- Direct imports suit buyers who can take a container or share one.
African species UK buyers order most
| UK trade name | Also known as | Typical UK use |
|---|---|---|
| Sapele | Sapelli | Windows, doors, stairs, furniture |
| Utile | Sipo | Windows, doors, joinery |
| Iroko | African teak | Worktops, sills, garden furniture, cladding |
| Opepe | Bilinga | Marine works, sleepers, decking |
| Ekki | Azobe | Sea defences, lock gates, crane mats |
| Okan | Denya | Decking, landscaping, heavy structures |
| African mahogany | Khaya | Furniture, boats, joinery (CITES) |
| Obeche | Ayous | Mouldings, saunas, painted joinery |
UK buyers often use different trade names from continental Europe, such as utile for sipo, opepe for bilinga and ekki for azobe. Always use botanical names on contracts and documents to avoid confusion. See our sapele lumber, sipo wood price and bilinga wood price guides.
UK rules on legal timber
The UK Timber Regulations (UKTR) prohibit placing illegally harvested timber on the UK market and require operators, the businesses that first place timber on the UK market, to carry out due diligence. That means gathering information on species, country of harvest, supplier, quantity and legality documents, assessing the risk that the timber is illegal and reducing that risk where needed. Traders further down the chain must keep records of who they bought from and sold to. The rules are enforced by the Office for Product Safety and Standards. The UK has also passed powers to regulate forest risk commodities more widely, with detailed rules still being developed, so keep an eye on updates. If you import directly, you are the operator and these duties are yours.
CITES species
Some African hardwoods are listed on CITES Appendix II, including afrormosia, doussie (afzelia), African padouk, bubinga and African mahogany (khaya). Imports into the UK need a valid CITES export permit from the producing country, and UK import requirements for listed species are handled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Plan extra time for permits. Non-listed species such as sapele, utile, iroko, opepe, ekki and okan do not need CITES permits, though their legality must still be documented. See our CITES timber species guide.
Ports and logistics
Most African hardwood arrives in the UK in containers through Felixstowe, Tilbury, London Gateway, Southampton or Liverpool, often after transhipment at a European hub such as Antwerp or Rotterdam. Large structural sections for marine works may come break-bulk. Transit from Central Africa is typically around three to five weeks, depending on route and transhipment. A customs broker or freight forwarder handles clearance and delivery to your yard. See our timber shipping cost guide.
VAT and duties
Import VAT is charged on timber imports and can usually be reclaimed by VAT-registered businesses, often through postponed VAT accounting. Customs duty depends on the commodity code; many sawn hardwood lines carry low or zero duty under the UK Global Tariff, but you should check the current rate for your exact code with your broker. Duty and VAT are calculated on the customs value, which normally includes freight and insurance to the UK.
Documents for UK imports
- Commercial invoice with species, botanical names and volumes.
- Packing list with bundle details.
- Bill of lading.
- Certificate of origin.
- Phytosanitary certificate where required for the product.
- CITES export permit for listed species.
- Legality documents to support your UKTR due diligence.
See our phytosanitary certificate for timber guide.
Direct import vs buying from a UK merchant
UK timber merchants hold stock, offer small quantities, cut to size and deliver quickly, which is ideal for small joiners and one-off jobs. Importing directly makes sense when you use enough timber to fill or share a container, want control over specification and quality, and can handle the due diligence and logistics. Many UK joinery firms do both: they import their core species directly and buy specials from merchants. A shared container with another firm is a good way to start.
A worked example for a UK joinery firm
Consider a joinery company in the Midlands making timber windows and doors for housebuilders and heritage projects. It currently buys sapele and utile from merchants, paying a premium for stock holding and cutting. Its annual usage is around 120 cubic metres, enough to justify direct imports. The firm agrees a specification with us: FAS and FAS/1F utile in 52, 65 and 80 mm for frames, sapele in 32 and 52 mm for doors, and iroko in 80 mm for sills, all kiln dried to 12–16%. It orders a mixed 40 ft container every four months, delivered CIF Felixstowe, with an independent inspection before loading for the first two shipments. A freight forwarder handles customs, postponed VAT accounting and haulage to the workshop. The firm builds a due diligence file for each shipment with the documents we provide. After a year, it has a steady supply of timber cut to its preferred sizes, better control over quality and a lower average cost per cubic metre, while still using merchants for urgent and unusual species.
Heritage and conservation work
Many UK heritage projects need timber that matches original joinery, often African mahogany, sapele or iroko. Conservation architects may specify species, grain and moisture content closely. If you work on listed buildings, tell us the specification early, as CITES species and selected grain take longer to source.
Marine and civil engineering
Ekki (azobe), opepe (bilinga) and greenheart have long been used in UK sea defences, harbours, river works and lock gates. These projects need large sections to engineers’ cutting lists and strict documentation for public procurement, often including FSC or PEFC certification. Share your cutting list and procurement requirements as early as possible. See our best wood for marine construction guide.
Payment and lead times
Kiln-dried joinery species are usually ready to load in 5–8 weeks, plus three to five weeks transit to the UK. 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.
Building your UKTR due diligence file
Due diligence does not have to be complicated, but it must be real and recorded. For each supplier, keep a profile with company details, the mills and forest areas they source from, their export permits and any certifications, with expiry dates. For each shipment, keep the contract, invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate where relevant, CITES permit for listed species and any legality or chain-of-custody documents. Add a short risk assessment: the country of harvest, the species, the supplier’s track record and any concerns, and what you did to reduce risk, such as asking for further documents, independent verification or certification. Review the file at least once a year and whenever something changes. If an enforcement officer asks how you checked legality, this file is your evidence. It also reassures your own customers, such as housebuilders and public bodies, who increasingly ask for proof of responsible sourcing. See our EUDR timber compliance guide for the EU equivalent, which many UK firms also follow when they export to Europe.
Storage and acclimatisation in the UK climate
The UK’s damp climate means kiln-dried joinery timber must be stored indoors or under a solid roof, stacked flat with stickers, and away from open doors and wet floors. Let stock settle in your workshop before machining critical parts.
Sharing a container
If your annual volume is too small for a full container, consider sharing one with another joinery firm or merchant, with each party taking its own bundles. Clear labelling and separate invoices make this simple, and it lets smaller UK buyers benefit from direct pricing and their own specification.
Common mistakes
- Using only UK trade names: put botanical names on all documents.
- Forgetting due diligence: as an importer, you are the operator under UKTR.
- Underestimating CITES time: listed species need permits.
- Not budgeting VAT cash flow: check postponed VAT accounting.
Our honest advice
Direct imports of African hardwood can give UK buyers better control over specification and cost, provided you handle UKTR due diligence, CITES where relevant and customs properly. Start with a well-specified mixed container of your core species, work with a good forwarder and build from there.
Sources
Related guides
- How to import timber from Africa
- FOB vs CIF timber
- Iroko wood price
- Azobe price
- African timber exporter
Frequently asked questions about hardwood timber supplier UK imports
Can I import African hardwood directly into the UK?
Yes, if you carry out due diligence under the UK Timber Regulations and clear customs.
What is utile?
The UK trade name for sipo, Entandrophragma utile.
Do I pay VAT on timber imports?
Yes, import VAT applies; VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim it.
Which UK ports handle African timber?
Mainly Felixstowe, Tilbury, London Gateway, Southampton and Liverpool.
Get a UK delivered quote
Send us your species, specification, volume and UK port through our quote form. We will reply with FOB or CIF prices and lead time.