Atlantic Logs & Lumber Inc.
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The African hardwood buying guide.

Practical guidance for procurement, engineering and design teams specifying African tropical hardwood by end use. Use it to shortlist species, define grade and moisture, and structure your enquiry.

Marine & port infrastructure

Piers, jetties, lock gates, fenders

Prioritise Class 1 durability and mechanical strength in salt water and immersion. Azobe / Ekki is the industry benchmark for marine piling and fender walings; Okan and Tali cover heavy structural applications with tighter budgets.

  • · Species: Azobe / Ekki, Okan, Tali
  • · Form: sawn baulks and squares
  • · Moisture: air-dried, coated ends

Infrastructure

Bridges, decking, rail sleepers

Look for durability class 1–2 with proven long-service track records outdoors and under load. Specify FSQ (fixed square) sizes, edge-quality grading and end-sealing to reduce checking.

  • · Species: Azobe, Okan, Tali
  • · Sizes: 100–300mm section
  • · Grade: Prime, no through defects

Exterior joinery

Windows, doors, cladding, screens

Balance durability with stability and finishing. Sapele and Iroko dominate exterior joinery; Doussie offers exceptional stability for premium door and window suites. Kiln-dried to 12–14% MC.

  • · Species: Sapele, Iroko, Doussie
  • · Form: KD lumber
  • · MC: 12% ± 2%

Architectural & luxury interiors

Panelling, veneers, joinery, furniture

Specify for grain figure and consistency. Sapele (ribbon, quartered), Sipo and Kosipo deliver mahogany aesthetics for high-end interiors, veneers and yacht joinery.

  • · Species: Sapele, Sipo, Kosipo
  • · Grade: FAS / Prime
  • · Cut: quartered or crown

How to structure your enquiry

  1. 1. ApplicationDescribe the end use, environment and expected service life.
  2. 2. Species shortlistNominate preferred species — we'll suggest alternates if supply or price warrants.
  3. 3. Form & gradeLogs, KD/AD lumber, squares. Specify grade rules (FAS, Prime, Common) if known.
  4. 4. Dimensions & volumeThickness × width × length ranges, and total volume in m³ or containers.
  5. 5. Destination & IncotermsPort of discharge, preferred Incoterms and target arrival window.
  6. 6. DocumentationAny bank, customs or certification requirements (LC, EUDR, phytosanitary).

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