Azobe, also known as ekki or bongossi, is the heavy hardwood that keeps canal banks, lock gates and harbour fenders standing across Europe. If you are pricing a bridge, a jetty or a batch of crane mats, you need a realistic azobe price, and with azobe, the timber is only part of the story. Its weight changes how many cubic metres fit in a container, how much you pay for freight and how you handle it on site.
In this guide we explain how azobe is priced, what pushes the cost up or down, how weight affects landed cost and how to specify an order so you get a sharp, fair price. We supply azobe from Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo at Global Timber Trade Hub.
In short
- Our azobe starts from about $650 per m³ for standard sawn sections, FOB Central Africa.
- Long lengths, large sections and profiled decking cost more.
- Azobe is very heavy, so a 40ft container usually carries only about 22–25 m³.
- That makes freight cost per m³ higher than for lighter species.
- Allowing equivalent species such as okan or tali can lower price and lead time.
- Azobe is not CITES listed, so there is no permit cost or delay.
How azobe is priced
Azobe is sold per cubic metre, usually FOB a Central African port. Prices depend on the product form: beams, planks, decking, sleepers or mat timbers. Because most azobe goes into engineered structures, quotes are typically based on a cutting list rather than random sizes.
Azobe price at a glance
| Product | Indicative level (FOB) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard sawn sections | from about $650 per m³ | General heavy construction |
| Large beams (e.g. 300 × 300 mm) | higher | Lock gates, quays, bridges |
| Long lengths over 8 m | higher | Bridge beams, fender piles |
| Decking profiles | quoted by profile | Bridge and heavy-duty decks |
| Railway sleepers and switch timbers | quoted by size | Track work |
| Crane mat beams | quoted by size | Mats and access platforms |
See the azobe product page and our full African hardwood prices list.
What drives the azobe price
Section size
Large sections need large, sound logs with a big core of heartwood. A 300 × 300 mm beam costs more per cubic metre than 100 × 200 mm sections, because fewer logs can produce it.
Length
Lengths up to about 6 m are easiest to supply. Lengths of 8–12 m need longer, straighter logs, careful handling and often special loading, which adds cost.
Grading and tolerances
Structural grading to a strength class, tight dimensional tolerances and limits on defects such as heart, wane and splits all reduce yield and add to the price. Read our guide to hardwood lumber grades.
Processing
Planed decking, pre-drilled mat beams, anti-split plates on sleepers and end sealing all add labour.
Weight and freight
Azobe weighs roughly 1,050–1,200 kg/m³ when air dried or fresh sawn. Containers reach their weight limit long before they are full, so freight cost per cubic metre is higher than for lighter species.
How weight changes your landed cost
A 40ft container of azobe typically carries about 22–25 m³, compared with around 40–45 m³ of a medium-density species such as sapele. If the freight per container is the same, the freight cost per cubic metre of azobe is close to double. That is why landed cost, not FOB price, is the right number to compare. See how much timber fits in a 40ft container and our timber shipping cost guide.
Azobe vs equivalent species on price
| Species | From (USD/m³, FOB) | Approx. density (kg/m³) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azobe | $650 | 1,000–1,100 | Hardest, heaviest, longest track record |
| Okan | $650 | 880–950 | Class 1 durable, slightly lighter |
| Tali | $650 | 880–930 | Economical, very durable |
| Mukulungu | $700 | 900–1,000 | Dense, fine texture |
| Bilinga | $700 | 720–780 | Lighter, good borer resistance |
Because okan and tali are a little lighter, you can often load more cubic metres per container, which lowers freight per m³. Compare them in okan vs azobe and tali vs azobe.
Azobe vs Greenheart on price
Greenheart from Guyana is the classic alternative for marine works. Its supply comes from a smaller region, and it is usually more expensive and slower to source in volume. For fresh water and temperate harbours, azobe is often the more economical choice. Read Azobe vs Greenheart.
A worked example
A contractor needs 45 m³ of azobe for a canal bank renovation: 300 × 300 mm posts in 6 m lengths and 200 × 75 mm planks. At the weight of air-dried azobe, that volume needs two 40ft containers. The contractor multiplies the volume by the quoted price per m³ for each section, adds freight for two containers, insurance, duties and delivery, then divides by 45 to get the landed cost per m³. If the specification accepts okan for the planks, the load per container rises slightly and the total freight falls.
How to get a sharp azobe price
- Send a full cutting list with sections, lengths and number of pieces.
- Allow equivalent species where your engineer agrees.
- Keep lengths within 6 m where design allows.
- Accept fresh-sawn or air-dried condition for heavy sections.
- Plan ahead so we can allocate suitable logs.
- Order full containers or combine with lighter species to use spare space.
Moisture condition and price
Large azobe sections are normally supplied fresh sawn or air dried. Kiln drying such dense, thick timber is slow and costly and can cause more checking than it prevents. If your project specifies dried stock, tell us at quote stage, because it affects price and lead time.
Documents included
Azobe is not CITES listed. Every shipment includes the commercial invoice, packing list with weights, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate and legality and chain-of-custody documents. Public projects often require these in tenders. For EU buyers, we provide the information needed for EUDR due diligence. See EUDR timber compliance.
Lead times
Standard sections are often available within a few weeks. Large sections and long lengths usually need 4–8 weeks to prepare before loading. For big projects, we split deliveries to match construction phases.
Azobe price by application
- Lock gates and hydraulic works: large graded sections; highest price per m³ but longest service life.
- Fender piles and rubbing strips: long sections; priced by length.
- Bridge decks: thick planks or profiled boards; priced by profile.
- Sleepers and switch timbers: standard sections; competitive pricing in volume. See hardwood railway sleepers.
- Crane mats: mat beams cut to length; see hardwood crane mats.
Lifecycle cost: why azobe is still worth it
Azobe’s purchase price is moderate, but its real value is in service life. Structures in fresh water and temperate harbours commonly last 25 years or more without chemical treatment. Compared with softwood that must be replaced several times, or steel that needs coating and corrosion protection, azobe often gives the lowest cost over the life of the structure.
Who buys azobe from us?
Our azobe customers include marine and civil engineering contractors, water authorities, railway contractors, crane hire companies and mat fabricators. Most order by cutting list for specific projects, often with okan or tali accepted as equivalents for parts of the structure.
Handling costs on site
The price of azobe does not end at the port. A single 300 × 300 mm beam, 6 m long, weighs over half a tonne, and a 12 m beam more than a tonne. You will need suitable cranes or telehandlers, slings and safe storage on level bearers. Pre-drilling every fixing hole takes time, and tools wear faster than with softer species. Include these costs in your budget, especially on sites with limited access. On some projects, swapping lighter okan or bilinga for secondary members reduces handling time enough to offset any small price difference.
Quality checks before loading
For every azobe order, we check section sizes and lengths against your cutting list, inspect for splits, wane, heart and sapwood, and record the number of pieces, volume and weight of each bundle. For structural orders, we can arrange grading to your required strength class and provide certificates where needed. Photos are sent before loading so you can approve the shipment.
Price validity and contracts
Our quotes are usually valid for 14 days. For large public projects with long tender periods, we can discuss price validity, framework agreements and phased deliveries. Fuel costs and freight rates can move during a project, so agree early how changes will be handled, especially for CIF quotes where freight is included.
Our honest advice
Azobe is rarely the cheapest timber per cubic metre once freight is counted, but it is often the cheapest over the life of a heavy-duty structure. Use it where hardness and abrasion resistance matter most, and let equivalent species carry the rest of the load. That combination usually gives the best balance of price, lead time and performance.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting by FOB price only: weight makes freight a big part of the total.
- Specifying only one species: equivalents can cut cost and lead time.
- Insisting on kiln-dried heavy sections: usually unnecessary and costly.
- Ignoring road weight limits: plan delivery with your forwarder.
Sources
- Lophira alata on Wikipedia
- CIRAD Tropix for technical data.
Related guides
- Azobe vs Greenheart
- Okan vs azobe
- Best wood for marine construction
- Heavy construction and marine timber
- Hardwood beams
Frequently asked questions about azobe price
How much does azobe cost per m³?
Our azobe starts from about $650 per m³ for standard sawn sections, FOB Central Africa.
Why is azobe freight so expensive?
Because azobe is very heavy, containers fill by weight at around 22–25 m³, so freight per cubic metre is higher.
Is azobe cheaper than Greenheart?
Usually yes, and it is easier to source in volume.
Does azobe need a CITES permit?
No. Azobe is not CITES listed at the time of writing.
Get a firm azobe price
Send your cutting list and delivery port through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price per m³, expected container loads and lead time.