Wholesale African Bubinga Wood: Africa’s Premium Figured Hardwood for Slabs and Luxury Furniture
Looking to buy African Bubinga Wood direct from the source? Bubinga (Guibourtia spp.), often called African Rosewood, is the most sought-after figured hardwood from Central Africa. Huge trunks produce wide slabs with flame, pommele and waterfall figure that are used for some of the world’s most expensive dining tables and conference tables.
It is also very hard, with a Janka rating of about 2,410 lbf. Every shipment of African Bubinga wood we supply is covered by a CITES Appendix II export permit, so importers can sell it with confidence.
We supply African Bubinga wood as kiln-dried boards, slabs, flitches, turning blanks and decorative veneer from legally managed, ethically harvested forest concessions in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Every order is inspected, documented and shipped in containers to your port, warehouse or job site.
Technical Specifications of African Bubinga Wood
The figures below are typical values for African Bubinga 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 Bubinga Wood |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Guibourtia demeusei, Guibourtia tessmannii, Guibourtia pellegriniana |
| Botanical Family | Fabaceae |
| Other Trade Names | Kevazingo (rotary-cut), African Rosewood, Essingang, Akume |
| Origin (Central Africa) | Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon |
| Density | 830–890 kg/m³ (52–55 lbs/ft³) at 12% MC |
| Janka Hardness | 2,410 lbf (10,720 N) |
| Natural Durability | Durable to moderately durable (EN 350 class 2–3) |
| Stability | Large movement; must be dried slowly and carefully |
| Colour and Grain | Pinkish-red to deep reddish-brown with purple veining; figured logs show flame, pommele and waterfall patterns |
| CITES / Legal Status | Listed in CITES Appendix II since 2017. Gabon has banned Kevazingo harvesting, so we supply from legal Cameroon concessions with CITES export permits. |
| Price Unit | Per cubic metre (m³) |
Why Buyers Choose African Bubinga Wood
Importers, manufacturers and contractors choose African Bubinga wood for a clear set of practical reasons:
- Spectacular Figure: Pommele, flame and waterfall figure make every Bubinga slab unique.
- Very Hard and Dense: High density gives tabletops and furniture a solid, durable surface.
- Wide Slabs Available: Large-diameter trees yield wide single-piece tops and book-matched pairs.
- Fully Documented: CITES Appendix II export permits travel with every order.
Buy African Bubinga Wood for Luxury Furniture, Table Slabs and Instruments
When you buy African Bubinga Wood from Global Timber Trade Hub, you can order stock graded and dimensioned for the following applications:
1. Dining and Conference Table Slabs
Single-piece and book-matched Bubinga slabs are the signature product of this species.
2. Luxury Furniture and Cabinetry
Bubinga is used for executive desks, cabinets and high-end decorative furniture.
3. Musical Instruments
Bass guitar bodies, drum shells and marimba bars are popular Bubinga products.
4. Veneer and Turnery
Rotary-cut Kevazingo veneer and turned bowls show its figure at its best.
Available African Bubinga Wood Sizes, Grades and Product Forms
We hold standard Bubinga specifications and can cut to your project list. Typical product forms include:
| Product Form | Typical Sizes | Main Uses | Drying & Packing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiln-Dried Boards (FAS) | 25–75 mm (1"–3") thick, random widths | Furniture, flooring, instruments | KD 8–12% MC, wrapped bundles |
| Slabs and Flitches | 50–100 mm (2"–4") thick, custom widths | Table tops, counters, bars | Individually wrapped or crated |
| Turning and Instrument Blanks | Custom sizes on request | Turnery, knife scales, guitar parts | Waxed ends, boxed |
| Decorative Veneer | 0.6 mm and thicker, to order | Panels, doors, yacht interiors | Bundled flitches, boxed |
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
Exotic boards are kiln dried to 8–12% moisture content and hand-selected for colour and figure. Slabs are air dried and then kiln finished on request. Before loading, each parcel of Bubinga 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 Bubinga Wood: Practical Tips
- Slow Drying: Bubinga moves a lot during drying. Allow slabs to acclimatise before final machining.
- Gum Pockets: Some boards contain gum pockets. Wipe oily or gummy areas with acetone before gluing.
- Machining: It machines well with sharp carbide tools and finishes to a high lustre.
- Skin Sensitivity: Some workers are sensitive to Bubinga dust, so use extraction and gloves.
Ethically Harvested African Bubinga Wood From the Central African Forest Zone
All of our Bubinga 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: Listed in CITES Appendix II since 2017. Gabon has banned Kevazingo harvesting, so we supply from legal Cameroon concessions with CITES export permits. 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 Bubinga Wood in Bulk
- Send your enquiry: Tell us the product form, sizes, grade, volume and destination port for your Bubinga 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 Bubinga. 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 Bubinga Wood With Other African Hardwoods
Not sure if Bubinga is the right species? Compare it with these related timbers from our catalogue:
Browse more species in Best Selling African Timber, Exotic & Decorative Hardwoods, or view the full African timber catalogue.
Frequently Asked Questions About African Bubinga Wood
Is Bubinga the same as African Rosewood?
Yes. Bubinga is often traded as African Rosewood, although it is not a true Dalbergia rosewood. Rotary-cut Bubinga veneer is known as Kevazingo.
Is Bubinga legal to import?
Yes, with the correct paperwork. Bubinga is listed in CITES Appendix II, so each export needs a CITES permit, which we provide.
Can you supply live-edge Bubinga slabs?
Yes. We supply slabs and flitches on request, subject to available logs, legal permits and your required dimensions.
What is the minimum order for Bubinga?
Most buyers order one 20 ft or 40 ft container. We also accept mixed-species containers and smaller trial orders for Bubinga, so you can test the quality before scaling up.
Which documents come with Bubinga 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 Bubinga Wood for Your Next Project
Ready to buy African Bubinga 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.
Wood sample photo: Philipp Zinger / Das Ohr at de.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.
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