Wholesale African Zebrawood: Bold Striped Exotic Wood for Statement Furniture and Veneer
Looking to buy African Zebrawood direct from the source? Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis), also known as Zebrano or Zingana, is one of the most recognisable woods in the world. Its golden background and bold dark stripes create a striking look for furniture, veneer and design products.
With a Janka hardness of about 1,830 lbf, African Zebrawood is also hard and durable. Quartersawn boards show the straightest stripes, while flatsawn boards give a wavy, dramatic pattern.
We supply African Zebrawood as kiln-dried boards, slabs, flitches, turning blanks and decorative veneer from legally managed, ethically harvested forest concessions in Gabon, Republic of Congo and Cameroon. Every order is inspected, documented and shipped in containers to your port, warehouse or job site.
Technical Specifications of African Zebrawood
The figures below are typical values for African Zebrawood 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 Zebrawood |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Microberlinia brazzavillensis |
| Botanical Family | Fabaceae |
| Other Trade Names | Zebrano, Zingana, Allene, Amouk |
| Origin (Central Africa) | Gabon, Republic of Congo and Cameroon |
| Density | 740–805 kg/m³ (46–50 lbs/ft³) at 12% MC |
| Janka Hardness | 1,830 lbf (8,160 N) |
| Natural Durability | Moderately durable |
| Stability | Large movement; best used quartersawn or as veneer |
| Colour and Grain | Light golden-cream with bold dark-brown to black stripes resembling a zebra’s coat |
| CITES / Legal Status | Not listed under CITES. We supply Microberlinia brazzavillensis only; we do not trade the critically endangered M. bisulcata. |
| Price Unit | Per cubic metre (m³) |
Why Buyers Choose African Zebrawood
Importers, manufacturers and contractors choose African Zebrawood for a clear set of practical reasons:
- Instantly Recognisable: The bold stripe pattern makes Zebrawood a natural centrepiece in any design.
- Hard Surface: Its hardness suits tabletops, panels and small high-wear items.
- Veneer Value: A small volume of Zebrawood veneer can cover large areas of panels and doors.
- Premium Pricing: Designers and craftsmen pay premium prices for high-contrast stock.
Buy African Zebrawood for Veneer, Accent Furniture and Specialty Items
When you buy African Zebrawood from Global Timber Trade Hub, you can order stock graded and dimensioned for the following applications:
1. Decorative Veneer
Quarter-sliced Zebrano veneer is used on doors, wall panels and furniture.
2. Accent Furniture
Tables, cabinets and inlays use Zebrawood as a feature wood.
3. Yacht and Car Interiors
Luxury vehicle and yacht dashboards and trim use Zebrano veneer.
4. Small Specialty Items
Knife handles, guitar parts, boxes and pens are popular Zebrawood products.
Available African Zebrawood Sizes, Grades and Product Forms
We hold standard Zebrawood 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 Zebrawood 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 Zebrawood: Practical Tips
- Movement: Zebrawood can warp. Quartersawn stock and controlled kiln drying give the best stability.
- Tear-Out: Interlocked grain can tear out. Use sharp tools and light passes.
- Gluing: It glues well with standard adhesives.
- Finishing: A clear oil or lacquer brings out the contrast between the light and dark stripes.
Ethically Harvested African Zebrawood From the Central African Forest Zone
All of our Zebrawood 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. We supply Microberlinia brazzavillensis only; we do not trade the critically endangered M. bisulcata. 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 Zebrawood in Bulk
- Send your enquiry: Tell us the product form, sizes, grade, volume and destination port for your Zebrawood 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 Zebrawood. 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 Zebrawood With Other African Hardwoods
Not sure if Zebrawood is the right species? Compare it with these related timbers from our catalogue:
Browse more species in Exotic & Decorative Hardwoods, or view the full African timber catalogue.
Frequently Asked Questions About African Zebrawood
Is Zebrawood the same as Zebrano?
Yes. Zebrawood, Zebrano and Zingana are trade names for Microberlinia species from Central Africa.
Is Zebrawood endangered?
Microberlinia bisulcata is critically endangered and we do not trade it. We supply Microberlinia brazzavillensis from legally managed concessions.
Why is Zebrawood usually sold quartersawn?
Quartersawing gives straight, even stripes and better stability, which reduces warping.
What is the minimum order for Zebrawood?
Most buyers order one 20 ft or 40 ft container. We also accept mixed-species containers and smaller trial orders for Zebrawood, so you can test the quality before scaling up.
Which documents come with Zebrawood 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 Zebrawood for Your Next Project
Ready to buy African Zebrawood? 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: Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.
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