Wholesale African Azobe Wood: Africa’s Heavy-Duty Ironwood for Marine and Civil Engineering
Looking to buy African Azobe Wood direct from the source? Azobe (Lophira alata), also known as Ekki or Bongossi, is one of the hardest and heaviest commercial timbers in the world. With a density above 1,000 kg/m³ it sinks in water, and with a Janka hardness of about 3,350 lbf it handles loads that would destroy most other woods.
Engineers in Europe have used African Azobe wood for over a century in harbour fenders, lock gates, canal banks, bridge decks and railway sleepers. It lasts for decades in water and ground contact without chemical treatment.
We supply African Azobe wood as beams, baulks, planks, decking, railway sleepers and, where export is legally permitted, round logs and piles from legally managed, ethically harvested forest concessions in Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Republic of Congo. Every order is inspected, documented and shipped in containers to your port, warehouse or job site.
Technical Specifications of African Azobe Wood
The figures below are typical values for African Azobe 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 Azobe Wood |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophira alata |
| Botanical Family | Ochnaceae |
| Other Trade Names | Ekki, Bongossi, Red Ironwood, Eba, Akoga |
| Origin (Central Africa) | Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Republic of Congo |
| Density | 1,000–1,100 kg/m³ (62–69 lbs/ft³) at 12% MC |
| Janka Hardness | 3,350 lbf (14,900 N) |
| Natural Durability | Durable to very durable (EN 350 class 2); performs well in fresh and sea water |
| Stability | Large movement; supplied air-dried or fresh-sawn for structural use |
| Colour and Grain | Dark red-brown to chocolate brown with fine white deposits in the pores |
| CITES / Legal Status | Not listed under CITES. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, so we supply only from managed concessions with legality documents. |
| Price Unit | Per cubic metre (m³) |
Why Buyers Choose African Azobe Wood
Importers, manufacturers and contractors choose African Azobe wood for a clear set of practical reasons:
- Exceptional Strength: Azobe has very high bending and compression strength, which makes it suitable for structural loads.
- Natural Water Resistance: It performs for decades in fresh water and is widely used in sea-water structures.
- No Chemical Treatment Needed: Its natural durability removes the need for toxic preservatives in most uses.
- Heavy-Traffic Wear Resistance: Its hardness resists abrasion from trucks, ships, livestock and heavy machinery.
Buy African Azobe Wood for Marine Works, Bridges and Heavy Construction
When you buy African Azobe Wood from Global Timber Trade Hub, you can order stock graded and dimensioned for the following applications:
1. Harbour and Marine Structures
Fender piles, jetties, quay walls, dolphins and sheet piling are classic uses for Azobe.
2. Bridges and Boardwalks
Bridge decks, beams and heavy-duty boardwalks are built from Azobe in many European cities.
3. Railway Sleepers and Crane Mats
Azobe sleepers and crane mats carry very heavy loads with a long service life.
4. Truck, Trailer and Industrial Flooring
Its wear resistance makes it ideal for truck beds, container floors and industrial decks.
Available African Azobe Wood Sizes, Grades and Product Forms
We hold standard Azobe specifications and can cut to your project list. Typical product forms include:
| Product Form | Typical Sizes | Main Uses | Drying & Packing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beams and Baulks | 100×100 mm to 300×300 mm, up to 12 m | Bridges, marine works, frames | Fresh-sawn or air dried, end sealed |
| Planks and Decking | 25–50 mm × 100–200 mm | Decks, boardwalks, truck floors | Air dried, strapped bundles |
| Railway Sleepers and Crane Mats | 2,600 × 250 × 150 mm and custom | Railways, crane and site mats | Strapped bundles |
| Round Piles and Logs (where permitted) | Diameter 40–80 cm, 6–20 m | Piling, fenders, re-sawing | Break-bulk or flat-rack |
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
Structural sizes are normally supplied fresh-sawn or air dried, because large heavy sections are not suited to kiln drying. Decking and flooring can be kiln dried to 12–18% on request. Grading follows ATIBT export rules or your project specification. Before loading, each parcel of Azobe 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 Azobe Wood: Practical Tips
- Very Hard to Machine: Use carbide or stellite-tipped tools and slower feed rates.
- Pre-Drill Fixings: Always pre-drill for nails and bolts to avoid splitting.
- Drying: Azobe dries slowly and can check. It is usually supplied fresh-sawn or air-dried for structural work.
- Gluing: Its high density makes gluing difficult. Use mechanical fixings for structural joints.
Ethically Harvested African Azobe Wood From the Central African Forest Zone
All of our Azobe 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 Vulnerable by the IUCN, so we supply 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 Azobe Wood in Bulk
- Send your enquiry: Tell us the product form, sizes, grade, volume and destination port for your Azobe 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 Azobe. 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 Azobe Wood With Other African Hardwoods
Not sure if Azobe is the right species? Compare it with these related timbers from our catalogue:
Browse more species in Best Selling African Timber, Heavy Construction & Marine Timber, or view the full African timber catalogue.
Frequently Asked Questions About African Azobe Wood
Is Azobe the same as Ekki and Bongossi?
Yes. Azobe, Ekki and Bongossi are trade names for the same species, Lophira alata.
How long does Azobe last in water?
Well-specified Azobe structures commonly give service lives of 25 years or more in fresh water and marine environments.
What sizes of Azobe can you supply?
We supply beams and baulks up to 300 × 300 mm, planks, decking, railway sleepers and, where export is legally permitted, round piles.
What is the minimum order for Azobe?
Most buyers order one 20 ft or 40 ft container. We also accept mixed-species containers and smaller trial orders for Azobe, so you can test the quality before scaling up.
Which documents come with Azobe 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 Azobe Wood for Your Next Project
Ready to buy African Azobe 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.
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