African Mahogany and Sapele
Spotlight on West African tropical species
The West African species African Mahogany (also known as Khaya) and Sapele gained traction in North American markets in the mid-2000s, as Genuine Mahogany supply contracted and prices escalated after its CITES listing. End uses for African Mahogany include architectural millwork, furniture, and exterior doors, windows, and millwork. North America is its dominant market, with demand limited elsewhere. In contrast, Sapele enjoys broad international popularity, including in China and Europe. It goes into a wide variety of applications, such as interior and exterior doors, millwork, windows, and flooring. Sapele was the second-most imported tropical wood to the U.S. in 2017, with African Mahogany fourth. However, imports have fallen sharply in 2018 despite decent demand. Robust Chinese purchasing has strained Sapele supplies, and chronic port congestion is disrupting shipments of both species from West Africa.
Spotlight on: African Mahogany / Khaya
Species: Khaya ivorensis
Origin: West Africa
Characteristics / Appearance: Sapwood is creamy white or yellowish color. When freshly sawn the heartwood is a light pinkish-brown color that deepens to a reddish-brown and sometimes has a purple hue. The interlocked grain produces a striped ribbon like figure on quarter sawn surfaces. It works well and has a medium texture. It has good gluing and finishing properties and holds nails and screws well. It can be stained or polished to an excellent finish.
Janka Hardness Scale: 1,070 lb_f (see chart on page 57)
Comments: Good quality African Mahogany can be a woodworker's best friend – with beautiful figuring and lustrous coloring. It often has a shimmering figure. When quarter sawn the interlocking grain produces a beautiful ribbon figure.
Spotlight on: Sapele
Species: Entandrophragma cylindricum
Origin: West Africa
Characteristics / Appearance: Sapele heartwood is golden to a dark-reddish brown with a medium texture and high luster. Sapele contains an interlocking grain that produces light and dark ribbon stripes throughout the boards and is also found in a wide variety of other figured grain patterns. Sapele finishes well, with good gluing and nailing properties. It stains well and is suited to a variety of finishes retaining its color over time.
Janka Hardness Scale: 1,510 lb_f (see chart on page 57)
Comments: Sapele is most often used as a window and door material because it is so stable and very rot and weather resistant. The grain and pore structure is tight, making it a great substrate for painted surfaces as well. Among its more exotic uses is that in guitar manufacturing, in the top, back and sides of acoustic guitar bodies as well as the tops of electric guitar bodies.
Frequently asked questions
Why did African Mahogany and Sapele gain traction in North American markets in the mid-2000s?+
They gained traction as Genuine Mahogany supply contracted and prices escalated following its CITES listing. African Mahogany and Sapele served as alternatives to fill that demand gap.
How did African Mahogany and Sapele rank among tropical wood imports to the U.S. in 2017?+
Sapele was the second-most imported tropical wood to the U.S. in 2017, while African Mahogany ranked fourth.
Why have African Mahogany and Sapele imports fallen sharply in 2018 despite decent demand?+
Robust Chinese purchasing has strained Sapele supplies, and chronic port congestion in West Africa is disrupting shipments of both species.
How do the market geographies differ between African Mahogany and Sapele?+
North America is the dominant market for African Mahogany, with demand limited elsewhere. Sapele, by contrast, enjoys broad international popularity including in China and Europe.
What makes quarter sawn African Mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) visually distinctive?+
Its interlocked grain produces a striped, ribbon-like figure on quarter sawn surfaces, often with a shimmering appearance. The heartwood is a light pinkish-brown that deepens to reddish-brown, sometimes with a purple hue.
How is Sapele used in guitar manufacturing?+
Sapele is used for the top, back, and sides of acoustic guitar bodies, as well as the tops of electric guitar bodies. This is cited as one of its more exotic applications beyond its typical use in windows and doors.