Okoume is the light, pinkish hardwood from Gabon behind most of the world’s marine plywood. It is also sold as sawn lumber and veneer for boat parts, mouldings, furniture components and interior joinery. If you are planning a boat build, a plywood order or a production run, you need a clear view of the okoume wood price in each form, and of what drives it.
In this guide we explain how okoume lumber, veneer and plywood are priced, why Gabon’s export rules matter, how much fits in a container and how to buy efficiently. We supply okoume from Gabon and the Congo Basin at Global Timber Trade Hub.
In short
- Our okoume lumber starts from about $520 per m³, FOB Central Africa.
- Veneer is priced per m² or per m³; plywood per sheet by thickness and standard.
- BS 1088 marine plywood costs more than exterior-grade plywood.
- Gabon does not allow raw log exports, so okoume ships as sawn timber, veneer or plywood.
- Okoume is light, so a 40ft container usually holds about 45–50 m³ of lumber.
- Okoume is not CITES listed, which keeps paperwork simple.
Three ways to buy okoume
- Sawn lumber: boards and squares for mouldings, light joinery, boat stringers, furniture components and cigar boxes.
- Veneer: rotary-cut or sliced sheets for plywood production, door skins and decorative panels.
- Plywood: BS 1088 marine, exterior and interior grades for boats, furniture and fit-outs.
Okoume wood price at a glance
| Product | Pricing unit | Indicative level |
|---|---|---|
| Sawn lumber, standard grade | per m³, FOB | from about $520 |
| Kiln-dried FAS lumber | per m³, FOB | higher |
| Rotary veneer | per m³ or m² | depends on thickness and grade |
| Exterior plywood | per sheet | lower than marine |
| BS 1088 marine plywood | per sheet | premium, by thickness |
See the okoume product page and our full African hardwood prices list.
What changes the price of okoume lumber
- Grade: clear FAS boards cost more than mixed grades.
- Drying: okoume dries quickly, but kiln drying to 10–12% adds cost and protects against stain and movement.
- Dimensions: wide and thick boards from large logs cost more.
- Volume: full containers bring better pricing.
What changes the price of okoume plywood
- Standard: BS 1088 marine plywood requires waterproof glue, high-grade veneers and no core gaps, so it costs more than exterior plywood.
- Thickness: price rises with thickness, roughly in line with the volume of veneer.
- Face grade: the best faces for varnished work cost more than faces for painted work.
- Sheet size: large formats such as 3,100 × 1,530 mm cost more per sheet than 2,500 × 1,220 mm.
- Order size: mixed thickness packs and full containers change the unit price.
Read our full guide to Okoume marine plywood.
Why Gabon’s log export ban matters
Gabon has banned raw log exports since 2010 to build local processing. That is why okoume from Gabon reaches the world as sawn lumber, veneer and plywood rather than logs. The wider Central African plan to stop log exports across the region, now set for January 2028, will extend this approach. For buyers, it means more okoume is processed close to the forest, often with better traceability. See our guide on how to buy timber logs from Africa.
Container loads and freight
Okoume lumber is light, around 430–500 kg/m³, so containers usually fill by volume. A 40ft container typically holds about 45–50 m³ of boards, which keeps freight per cubic metre low. Plywood is loaded in crates by sheet count. Read how much timber fits in a 40ft container.
Okoume vs other light timbers on price
| Species | From (USD/m³, FOB) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Ilomba | $400 | Plywood cores, mouldings |
| Ayous (obeche) | $420 | Saunas, mouldings, furniture parts |
| Frake (limba) | $480 | Furniture, guitars, plywood |
| Okoume | $520 | Marine plywood, boats, mouldings |
See our guides to obeche wood and limba wood for guitars.
A worked example
A small boat yard needs 120 sheets of BS 1088 okoume plywood in 4, 6, 9 and 12 mm, plus 6 m³ of okoume lumber for stringers and trim. The plywood is priced per sheet by thickness and the lumber per cubic metre. Both go into one 20ft container, often with some iroko for rubbing strakes. The yard adds freight, duties and delivery to get its landed cost per sheet and per cubic metre.
How to compare okoume quotes
- For plywood: which standard, glue type, face grade and sheet size?
- For lumber: which grade, moisture content and dimensions?
- Is the plywood marked with the standard and manufacturer?
- Which Incoterm and port?
- What documents are included?
Beware of “marine” plywood without a stated standard; it may be exterior grade with core gaps.
Ways to lower your okoume cost
- Use exterior plywood for non-structural, protected parts, and BS 1088 only where it matters.
- Choose a middle face grade for painted or epoxy-coated surfaces.
- Mix thicknesses in one order to fill crates efficiently.
- Combine plywood and lumber in one container.
- Order before your build season so you are not paying for rush delivery.
Documents and legality
Okoume is not CITES listed. Every shipment includes the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate and legality and chain-of-custody documents. For EU buyers, we also provide information for EUDR due diligence. See EUDR timber compliance.
Lead times
Standard okoume lumber can often be prepared in a few weeks. Plywood depends on mill schedules and the standard required, typically 4–8 weeks for BS 1088 orders. Sea transit then takes 3–7 weeks depending on your port.
Okoume price by end use
- Kayaks, canoes and dinghies: thin BS 1088 plywood, 4–6 mm, best face for varnished decks.
- Small powerboats: 9–18 mm BS 1088 for hulls, bulkheads and transoms, with lumber for stringers.
- Furniture and fit-outs: exterior or interior plywood with a good face, often cheaper than marine.
- Mouldings and components: kiln-dried lumber in mixed grades.
- Door skins and decorative panels: veneer or thin plywood.
Quality to expect for the price
For BS 1088 plywood, expect each sheet to carry the standard and manufacturer mark, waterproof glue lines, no core gaps and a face grade matching your order. Thickness should be within the standard’s tolerances. For lumber, expect light, pinkish-brown boards that are straight-grained to slightly interlocked, sound and free of blue stain, at the moisture content you specified. We send photos of crates and bundles, plus moisture readings for lumber, before loading.
Lifecycle value
Okoume is not a durable wood on its own, but in plywood form, sealed in epoxy and paint, it builds light boats that last for decades. The low weight of okoume also saves fuel and improves performance on small craft. For many boat builders, that makes BS 1088 okoume the best value material per year of service, even though it costs more than generic plywood.
From FOB to landed cost
To know what okoume really costs at your door, add sea freight and insurance if you buy FOB, import duties and VAT or sales tax, broker and port fees, and inland transport. For plywood, divide the total by the number of sheets of each thickness to get a landed cost per sheet you can compare with local suppliers. Because okoume is light and packs efficiently, freight per cubic metre is lower than for dense hardwoods, which is one reason direct imports often beat local prices for regular buyers. Our guide to timber shipping cost explains how freight is worked out.
Storing okoume and plywood
Store plywood sheets flat on several level bearers, in a dry, covered space, away from heaters and sunlight, with a cover sheet on top. Store okoume lumber stickered and off the ground. Okoume can stain if it stays damp, so keep it dry from the moment it arrives. Good storage protects both the look and the value of what you bought.
Who buys okoume from us?
Our okoume customers include boat yards, kayak and canoe builders, kit boat suppliers, furniture and fit-out companies, moulding producers and plywood mills buying veneer. Many combine plywood and lumber, or okoume and harder species such as iroko, in one container.
Price validity and seasonality
Our quotes are usually valid for 14 days. Plywood prices can move with glue and energy costs, and lumber prices with the rainy seasons that slow logging. Boat builders who order in autumn for spring builds usually get the best combination of price and availability.
Trial orders
If you are new to buying okoume direct, start with a mixed trial: a few crates of plywood in your main thicknesses and a small volume of lumber. Check marking, flatness, glue quality and moisture, then scale up with confidence.
Our honest advice
Spend on BS 1088 plywood where a boat’s strength depends on it, and save with exterior plywood or lumber elsewhere. Plan orders before the building season, combine products in one container and insist on marked, documented sheets. That is how regular buyers keep their okoume costs low year after year.
Common mistakes
- Buying “marine” plywood without a standard: ask for BS 1088 or equivalent in writing.
- Using okoume unprotected outdoors: it is not durable; seal it.
- Leaving lumber wet: okoume can stain if not dried promptly.
- Comparing per-sheet prices across different standards: compare like with like.
Sources
Related guides
- Okoume marine plywood
- Best wood for boat building
- Gabon timber
- Plywood and lightweight timber
- African hardwood prices per m³
Frequently asked questions about okoume wood price
How much does okoume lumber cost?
Our okoume lumber starts from about $520 per m³, FOB Central Africa.
Why is BS 1088 plywood more expensive?
It requires waterproof glue, high-quality veneers and no core gaps, which take more selection and control.
Can I buy okoume logs?
Not from Gabon, which bans log exports. Okoume ships as lumber, veneer or plywood.
How much okoume fits in a container?
Typically about 45–50 m³ of lumber per 40ft container.
Get a firm okoume price
Send your product, sizes, standard and quantities through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price and lead time.