Wholesale African Sipo Wood: Premium Mahogany-Family Hardwood for Windows, Doors and Joinery
Looking to buy African Sipo Wood direct from the source? Sipo (Entandrophragma utile), also known as Utile, is a premium mahogany-family hardwood from Central Africa. It has the rich reddish-brown colour of Sapele but a calmer, more uniform grain and better stability.
With a Janka hardness of about 1,180 lbf and good natural durability, African Sipo wood is the preferred species of many European window and door manufacturers.
We supply African Sipo wood as kiln-dried sawn lumber, squares, veneer and, where export is legally permitted, logs from legally managed, ethically harvested forest concessions in Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Central African Republic. Every order is inspected, documented and shipped in containers to your port, warehouse or job site.
Technical Specifications of African Sipo Wood
The figures below are typical values for African Sipo 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 Sipo Wood |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Entandrophragma utile |
| Botanical Family | Meliaceae (mahogany family) |
| Other Trade Names | Utile, Assié, Kalungi, Liboyo |
| Origin (Central Africa) | Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Central African Republic |
| Density | 620–660 kg/m³ (39–41 lbs/ft³) at 12% MC |
| Janka Hardness | 1,180 lbf (5,260 N) |
| Natural Durability | Moderately durable to durable (EN 350 class 2–3) |
| Stability | Medium movement; more stable than Sapele |
| Colour and Grain | Reddish-brown to deep purplish-brown with a uniform, less striped appearance than Sapele |
| 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 Sipo Wood
Importers, manufacturers and contractors choose African Sipo wood for a clear set of practical reasons:
- Uniform Mahogany Colour: Sipo gives consistent reddish-brown colour across a full order.
- Better Stability: It moves less than Sapele, which is important for windows and doors.
- Good Durability: Its natural durability suits exterior joinery when finished.
- Large Clear Sizes: Tall trees produce long, wide, defect-free boards.
Buy African Sipo Wood for Windows, Doors and Joinery
When you buy African Sipo Wood from Global Timber Trade Hub, you can order stock graded and dimensioned for the following applications:
1. Window Frames and Sashes
Sipo is a standard species for high-quality timber windows in Europe.
2. Exterior and Interior Doors
Its stability and colour suit solid and engineered doors.
3. Furniture and Cabinetry
Sipo is used for fine furniture and kitchen cabinets.
4. Boat Building and Flooring
It is used for boat interiors, trim and hardwood flooring.
Available African Sipo Wood Sizes, Grades and Product Forms
We hold standard Sipo specifications and can cut to your project list. Typical product forms include:
| Product Form | Typical Sizes | Main Uses | Drying & Packing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rough-Sawn Boards (FAS / FAS 1F) | 27–100 mm (1"–4") thick, 150 mm+ wide, 1.8–4.9 m long | Furniture, doors, cabinetry | Kiln dried 10–12% MC, strapped bundles |
| Squares and Scantlings | 50×50 mm to 150×150 mm | Legs, frames, stair parts | KD or AD, wrapped bundles |
| Sliced or Rotary Veneer | 0.6 mm and thicker, to order | Panels, doors, plywood faces | Bundled flitches, boxed |
| Logs (where permitted) | Diameter 60 cm and above | Re-sawing and veneer mills | Loose in 40 ft containers or break-bulk |
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
Joinery and furniture grades are kiln dried to 10–12% moisture content (8–10% on request) and graded to NHLA FAS / FAS 1F or ATIBT export rules. Before loading, each parcel of Sipo 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 Sipo Wood: Practical Tips
- Interlocked Grain: Use sharp cutters to avoid tear-out on quartersawn faces.
- Gluing: Sipo glues well with standard adhesives.
- Finishing: It stains and lacquers to an excellent finish.
- Drying: It dries fairly quickly with little degrade when kiln dried correctly.
Ethically Harvested African Sipo Wood From the Central African Forest Zone
All of our Sipo 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 Sipo Wood in Bulk
- Send your enquiry: Tell us the product form, sizes, grade, volume and destination port for your Sipo 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 Sipo. 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 Sipo Wood With Other African Hardwoods
Not sure if Sipo is the right species? Compare it with these related timbers from our catalogue:
Browse more species in Furniture & Joinery Hardwoods, or view the full African timber catalogue.
Frequently Asked Questions About African Sipo Wood
Is Sipo the same as Utile?
Yes. Sipo and Utile are trade names for Entandrophragma utile.
Is Sipo better than Sapele?
Sipo is more stable and slightly more durable, with a more uniform look. Sapele is harder and has a stronger ribbon stripe. Both are excellent.
Is Sipo suitable for exterior windows?
Yes. Sipo is widely used for timber windows and doors when finished with a suitable coating.
What is the minimum order for Sipo?
Most buyers order one 20 ft or 40 ft container. We also accept mixed-species containers and smaller trial orders for Sipo, so you can test the quality before scaling up.
Which documents come with Sipo 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 Sipo Wood for Your Next Project
Ready to buy African Sipo 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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