One of the first questions new importers ask is how much timber they must buy to order direct from an African exporter. The honest answer is that it depends on the species, the product, the mill and how the timber is shipped, but in most cases the practical starting point is a container. Understanding the timber minimum order quantity, why it exists and how to work around it with mixed or shared loads helps smaller buyers decide when direct import makes sense and how to start.
In this guide we explain why exporters set minimum orders, typical volumes in 20 ft and 40 ft containers for different species, how mixed and shared containers lower the threshold, when buying from a local merchant is the better option, and how to plan a first order that fits your business. At Global Timber Trade Hub we work with buyers of many sizes, from single mixed containers to regular multi-container programmes.
In short
- Direct timber exports are normally sold by the container.
- A 20 ft container typically holds about 18–30 m³ depending on species weight.
- A 40 ft container typically holds about 45–65 m³ of light and medium species.
- Mixed containers let you combine several species to reach a full load.
- Shared containers let two or more buyers split one load.
- Very small needs are often better served by local merchants.
Why exporters set minimum orders
Exporting timber from Central Africa involves fixed costs for every shipment: inland transport to the port, export documents, phytosanitary inspection, permits, port handling, container stuffing and sometimes independent inspection. These costs are similar whether the container holds 5 cubic metres or 50. Sea freight is also charged per container, not per cubic metre. Spreading these fixed costs over a full container keeps the price per cubic metre reasonable for the buyer. Mills also cut, dry and grade in batches, so very small special orders disrupt production. For these reasons, most exporters set a minimum of one container, sometimes allowing mixed loads to reach it.
How much fits in a container?
| Species type | 20 ft container | 40 ft container |
|---|---|---|
| Very heavy (azobe, okan, tali) | about 18–22 m³ (weight limited) | limited by weight and road rules |
| Heavy (wenge, moabi, padouk) | about 20–25 m³ | about 35–45 m³ |
| Medium (sapele, sipo, iroko) | about 22–28 m³ | about 45–55 m³ |
| Light (ayous, frake, okoume) | about 25–30 m³ | about 55–65 m³ |
These are rough ranges; actual volumes depend on moisture content, board sizes, packing and the shipping line’s weight limits. See our how much timber fits in a 40 ft container guide.
What does a container cost?
As a rough guide, a 20 ft container of 22 m³ of sapele at about $850 per m³ FOB has a timber value of around $18,700, plus freight, insurance, duties and local costs. A 40 ft container of 50 m³ of ayous at about $420 per m³ FOB is around $21,000 before freight. Dense or exotic species cost more per container. This gives a realistic idea of the minimum investment for direct import. See our African hardwood prices guide.
Lowering the threshold with mixed containers
If you need several species or sizes, a mixed container lets you combine them to fill one load. For example, a joinery shop might take sapele, iroko and a little wenge; a landscaper tali, okan and iroko. Each species can be a few cubic metres, as long as the total fills the container sensibly. See our mixed container timber order guide.
Sharing a container
If even a mixed container is too much, consider sharing one with another business. Each buyer’s bundles are labelled separately, and documents can show each portion. You need to agree who is the importer of record, how customs clearance and duties are handled and how the timber is delivered from the port. Freight forwarders and some distributors offer consolidation services that do this for you.
Minimums per species and size
Within a mixed container, mills may still set a practical minimum per species or thickness, such as a few cubic metres, because very small bundles of many sizes are costly to cut, dry, grade and pack. Special sizes and fixed lengths usually need larger minimums than standard random-width boards. Ask your supplier what is practical for each item before you finalise the order.
When local merchants make more sense
If you need only a few cubic metres a year, many sizes in small quantities, or timber at very short notice, a local timber merchant or distributor is often the better choice. They hold stock, cut to size and deliver quickly, and the higher price per cubic metre includes those services. Many businesses use both: direct imports for their core species and merchants for specials and emergencies.
A worked example: is direct import worth it?
Consider a furniture workshop that uses around 30 cubic metres of hardwood a year, mainly sapele with some iroko and moabi, bought from a local merchant. The workshop adds up its merchant invoices and finds it paid well above the FOB price per cubic metre, which included the merchant’s freight, stock holding, cutting and margin. It then estimates the landed cost of a mixed 20 ft container from Africa: timber at FOB prices, plus sea freight, insurance, duties, customs clearance and delivery to the workshop. Even after these costs, the landed price per cubic metre comes out lower than the merchant price. The workshop decides to import one mixed container a year containing most of its needs, stores the timber in a dry corner of its building and continues to buy specials from the merchant when needed. The first order takes some learning, especially with documents and timing, but the saving over a year is significant, and the workshop gains control over grade and moisture content. For a business using only five cubic metres a year, the same sum would probably not work, and staying with the merchant would make more sense.
Planning your first order
- List the species, thicknesses and annual volumes you use.
- Decide which items are core and which you can keep buying locally.
- Check you have storage space and cash for a container.
- Get a quote for a balanced mixed container and estimate landed cost.
- Line up a freight forwarder or customs broker.
- Agree payment terms and, for a first order, consider inspection.
Lead times and payment
Most containers are ready to load in 4–8 weeks, longer for CITES species or special sizes. For first orders, a letter of credit or a deposit with balance against copy documents protects both sides. See our letter of credit for timber guide.
Building up from one container
Most businesses that import timber direct start small and grow. After the first container, you know how the process works, how long each step takes and how the timber performs in your products. You can then adjust the mix, add new species and increase frequency. Many buyers move from one mixed container a year to one every quarter, then to regular monthly or bi-monthly shipments as their business grows. With a steady order pattern, suppliers can plan logs, kiln space and grading for you, which helps with consistency and pricing. Keep records of landed cost per species, quality on arrival and any claims, so you can compare suppliers and decide where to expand. Regular buyers also find it easier to move from letters of credit to simpler payment terms, which saves bank fees. Starting with a well-planned single container is the best way to learn without taking on too much risk. See our timber inspection before shipment guide for how to protect early orders.
Storage space and cash flow
A container of timber needs dry, covered storage, ideally on level bearers with room to sticker and sort bundles. Plan where it will go before you order. Remember too that you will pay for the timber, freight and duties before you sell the finished products, so check that your cash flow can handle a container’s worth of stock.
Minimums for CITES species and specials
CITES-listed species such as padouk, doussie, afrormosia, bubinga and African mahogany need export permits for each shipment, which adds time and fixed paperwork. For this reason, very small lots of these species are less economical, and it makes sense to combine them with other timber in a mixed container. Special products such as slabs, fixed-length sections, profiled decking or quarter-sawn selections may also carry higher per-item minimums, because they need specific logs, extra handling or dedicated machine set-ups. Ask us early what is practical for each item. See our CITES timber species guide.
When in doubt, send us your list and we will tell you honestly whether direct import makes sense for your volumes.
Common mistakes
- Ordering far more than you can use: cash and space are tied up.
- Too many tiny lots in one container: handling costs rise.
- Ignoring weight limits: dense timber fills containers by weight.
- Forgetting landed costs: freight and duties add significantly.
Our honest advice
Direct import usually starts at one container, but mixed and shared loads make it accessible to smaller businesses. Estimate your annual usage by species, plan a balanced first container and compare landed cost with your current merchant prices. If the numbers work, start with one load and build from there.
Sources
Related guides
- How to import timber from Africa
- Timber shipping cost
- FOB vs CIF timber
- Wholesale hardwood lumber
- Our FAQ
Frequently asked questions about timber minimum order quantity
What is the minimum order for timber from Africa?
Usually one container, which can often be a mixed load of several species.
How many cubic metres are in a 20 ft container of timber?
Roughly 18–30 m³, depending on species weight and packing.
Can small buyers import timber direct?
Yes, with mixed or shared containers, or through consolidation services.
Is it cheaper to import direct?
Often, if you use enough timber; compare landed cost with merchant prices.
Talk to us about your volumes
Send us your species, sizes and annual usage through our quote form. We will suggest the best way to start, whether a full, mixed or shared container.